four o'clock
After some further conversation between the Captain and his wife , it was agreed that he should attempt to proceed before dawn in the little boat to Annapolis Royal , and there , if possible , purchase a small vessel suitable to convey his goods and family up the river to his grant of land . At four o'clock he secretly and alone left the fort , waving with his hand an adieu to his wife , as he stepped out of the door . He carried with him to the boat a camp blanket which he intended to hoist as a sail . At four o'clock , thirty minutes , he was on his way . As the little boat passed the island at the mouth of the harbour a breeze sprang up . He hoisted the sail , making it fast to one of the oars , which was used as a mast ; the other oar being brought into play for steering purposes . Captain Godfrey had been fortunate in bringing with him from England several small compasses and two larger ones , one of the latter he took with him .