five o’clock in the afternoon
But the sailing of the little beauty had been regularly spoiled . We could still in light winds weather on ' the corvette , it is true , but then she was a slow top , unless it blew half a gale of wind ; and as for going any thing free , why a sand barge would have beaten us . -- We kept company with the Firebrand until we weathered Cape Maize . It was near five o'clock in the afternoon , the corvette was about half a mile on our lee-bow , when , while walking the deck , after an early dinner , Tailtackle came up to me . `` The Commodore has hove-to , sir . '' `` Very like , '' said I ; `` to allow the merchant-ships to close , I presume . '' `` A gun , '' said little Reefpoint .