ten o'clock
Write to me , my dear boy , and tell me how this unfortunate mistake happened , and believe me to be your affectionate mother , ARABELLA KEENE . '' I read this letter over ten times before I came to any conclusion ; at last I said to myself , there is not in any one part of it any positive denial of the fact , and resolved some future day , when I had had some conversation with Bob Cross , to show it to him , and ask his opinion . The next morning , at daylight , the blue Peter was hoisted at the foremast , and the gun fired as a signal for sailing ; all was bustle -- hoisting in , clearing boats of stock , and clearing the ship of women and strangers . At ten o'clock Captain Delmar made his appearance , the hands were piped up anchor , and in half an hour we were standing out for St. Helen 's . Before night it blew very fresh , and we went rolling down the Channel before an easterly wind . I went to my hammock very sick , and did not recover for several days , during which nobody asked for me , or any questions about me , except Bob Cross and Tommy Dott . As soon as I was well enough , I made my appearance on deck , and was ordered by the first lieutenant to do my duty under the signal midshipman : this was day duty , and not very irksome ; I learnt the flags , and how to use a spy-glass .