two o'clock in the morning
A bright lookout was to be maintained for the longboat , which was to signal her approach by displaying a single lantern ; but should she be unable for any reason to rejoin the ship on the night agreed upon , the same tactics were to be pursued night after night for six nights ; when , if she did not then return , it was to be assumed that she and her crew had fallen into the hands of the Spaniards , and Bascomb was to act as might be determined upon after consultation with the rest of the officers . This arrangement , then , was adhered to ; the _ Adventure _ remained hove-to in the offing during the whole of that day , filling away and beginning to work in toward the land about half an hour before sunset . Captain Marshall then picked his longboat 's crew -- which consisted of Dick Chichester , George Burton , Robert Hogan , and Edward Fenner -- and directed them to make all necessary preparations for accompanying him ; after which they were to turn in and take their rest until they should be summoned on deck . It was just half-past two o'clock in the morning when Dick , having been aroused from a sound sleep by the cabin boy , presented himself , fully dressed , in the main cabin , where he found Captain Marshall already seated at the table , partaking of an early breakfast , in which , by a wave of the hand , he invited Chichester to join , which the latter promptly did , falling to with a good appetite . A quarter of an hour later , having finished their meal , the pair passed out on deck , where they found the longboat , with six beakers of fresh water in her to serve as ballast , with her locker full of provisions , with her rudder shipped , and oars , masts , and sails lying upon her thwarts already slung and ready for hoisting out . It was a fine night , the sky clear , excepting for a few small drifting clouds , between which the stars shone brilliantly , the water smooth , the wind a moderate offshore breeze , and the land clearly in view some eight miles to windward ; it was in fact a perfectly ideal night for such an expedition as was in contemplation . The task of preparing the longboat had been entrusted to Mr Winter , who now reported her as ready ; nevertheless Captain Marshall , like a prudent mariner , subjected her to a very close and careful scrutiny before giving the word to hoist her out .