about seven in the morning
We remained on this spot till break of day , but the weather was too hazy to admit of our distinguishing any object at sea , every thing being covered with fog . All we could descry to seaward was a dark cloud , which they told us was the isle of Amber , at the distance of a quarter of a league from the coast . On this gloomy day we could only discern the point of land on which we were standing , and the peaks of some inland mountains , which started out occasionally from the midst of the clouds that hung around them . At about seven in the morning we heard the sound of drums in the woods : it announced the approach of the governor , Monsieur de la Bourdonnais , who soon after arrived on horseback , at the head of a detachment of soldiers armed with muskets , and a crowd of islanders and negroes . He drew up his soldiers upon the beach , and ordered them to make a general discharge . This was no sooner done , than we perceived a glimmering light upon the water which was instantly followed by the report of a cannon . We judged that the ship was at no great distance and all ran towards that part whence the light and sound proceeded .