about midnight
The rafts were constructed merely of rough timber stoutly nailed together , while the flags , being only required to last a day or two , as we hoped , were made of coloured calico , the edges turned over and hemmed with a sewing-machine , that they might not fray or tear . A couple of hours ' work sufficed to complete my small requisition , with which I returned to the _ Kasanumi _ . It was within half an hour of sunset when I got aboard with my boatload of miscellaneous paraphernalia ; and as the torpedo flotilla always kept steam while at the Elliots , excepting when it became necessary to clean flues or boilers , we at once got our anchor and proceeded to sea at a speed of twenty knots . I was bound round to Kinchau Bay , the distance of which from the Elliot group , by sea , was about one hundred and thirteen sea miles ; I therefore reckoned on arriving at my destination about midnight , which would suit me admirably . The moon was in her third quarter , and was due to rise , that night , at a few minutes after one o'clock , which would also suit me excellently . For a wonder , the night was fine , with a light air out from about south-east ; there was no sea , and not much swell , and as the destroyer was running well within herself , we went along quite easily and comfortably , and I seized the opportunity to snatch a few hours ' sleep , leaving the navigation of the boat to my chief officer , who was quite equal to the task . The trip was uneventful , and at midnight Lieutenant Hiraoka aroused me with the intimation that we were standing into Kinchau Bay , and were already near enough to the land to enable the watch-fires on the hills to be made out ; I accordingly turned out and went on deck to take a look round .