about six o'clock
There being no obstruction to fear , he kept at a height of only a hundred feet above sea level . The sea was calm , gleaming like a sheet of silver in the moonlight , so that the aeroplane seemed to fly over a continuous glistening track . Steadily it flew on ; Smith had nothing to do but to sit still , feed the engine with petrol , and keep his eyes alternately on the compass and the stars . At length , about six o'clock by his watch -- past eleven in the longitude to which he had arrived -- he caught sight ahead of a dark outline on the water , no doubt a group of islands , though whether the Andamans or the Nicobars he did not feel sure . Knowing that they were all hilly in formation , he slackened speed , intending to run down their coastline rather than cross them . It would not be difficult to find one of the many channels between them through which he could continue his flight , past the northern end of Sumatra to Penang . By taking a southerly course , moreover , he would , be able to assure himself of his direction .