About noon
None , however , were seen , and just as the first streaks of daylight appeared in the sky , the commodore gave the order to `` pipe to breakfast . '' Fires were lighted on the island , and cocoa and coffee warmed up , while another dose of quinine was served out to each man . The operation did not take long , and once more the flotilla advanced , the tide carrying them rapidly up the river . About noon , as the sun was beating down with tremendous force , Angoxa came in sight , with , as the commodore had expected from the information he had received , several dhows at anchor before it under the protection of its guns . Directly the boats rounded the last point , which had before concealed their approach , the red flag was hoisted above the fort , and at the same time the loud sounds of the beating of tom-toms and drums commenced , continuing incessantly , as if to intimidate the English tars and induce them to pull back again to their ships . The men laughed . `` What a row them niggers do kick up !