The 6th of July, about three o'clock in the afternoon
The ship 's crew agreed with him . And certainly it was possible that they might meet the narwhal in this narrow pass . Many of the sailors affirmed that the monster could not pass there , `` that he was too big for that ! '' The 6th of July , about three o'clock in the afternoon , the Abraham Lincoln , at fifteen miles to the south , doubled the solitary island , this lost rock at the extremity of the American continent , to which some Dutch sailors gave the name of their native town , Cape Horn . The course was taken towards the north-west , and the next day the screw of the frigate was at last beating the waters of the Pacific . `` Keep your eyes open ! '' called out the sailors .