four
o'clock
I have been down to make my final preparations , and find my cabin much to my liking . Captain Holding is still short of hands . `` July 17th . , 7.30 p.m. -- We cast off our warps shortly after four o'clock , and were quickly running homeward at about seven knots an hour . The Concanens stood on deck with me watching Ceylon grow dim on the horizon . As the proud cone of Adam 's Peak faded softly and slowly into the evening mist , and so vanished , as I hope , for ever out of my life , I could not forbear returning thanks to Providence , which has thus far watched over me so wonderfully . There is a fair breeze , and the hands , though short , do their work well to all appearances .