four o'clock
`` Another three hours and we shall be alongside of her , '' the skipper said ; `` and if I am not mistaken we shall come out ahead of her . '' `` There is one advantage in the course we are taking , Hawkins . Viewing us , as she will , pretty nearly end on till we get nearly abreast of her , she wo n't be able to make out our rig clearly . '' By four o'clock they were within five miles of the brigantine . The wind then freshened , and laying her course as she did , while the brigantine was obliged to make frequent tacks , the Osprey ran down fast towards her . `` They must have their eyes on us by this time , '' the captain said . `` Though they can not be sure that it is the Osprey , they can see that she is a yawl of over a hundred tons , and as they can not doubt that we are chasing them , they wo n't be long in guessing who we are .