about seven p.m.
Smellie 's plan , therefore , was simply to go outside as soon as the evening mists gathered sufficiently to conceal our movements , and there await the _ Black Venus _ , trusting to the speed of the _ Virginia _ and our own manoeuvring to enable us to get promptly alongside her . The plan looked very promising , and it was adopted . The messenger was at once passed , and the ship hove short ; after which we awaited with such patience as we could muster for the gathering of the mist . At length , about seven p.m. , the anchor was tripped , and the _ Virginia _ glided gracefully out of the creek to seaward , under topsails , jib , and boom mainsail . We knew almost to a hair 's - breadth the course which the _ Black Venus _ must steer for the first seven or eight miles after clearing Shark Point , and Smellie placed us right across this track , jamming the vessel close upon a wind and wearing short round every twenty minutes ; by which plan we were never more than ten minutes sail from the line over which we expected the enemy to pass . A careful calculation , based upon our knowledge of the _ Black Venus 's _ extraordinary sailing powers , showed that we might look for her about half-past nine o'clock ; and half an hour previous to that we began to make our preparations for according to her a suitable reception . The decks were cleared for action , the magazine was opened , arms and ammunition were served out to the crew , who were then sent to quarters ; the guns were loaded each with a round-shot and a charge of grape on the top of it , and all the canvas was loosed and made ready for setting at a moment 's notice .