seven o'clock
But , even as I looked , a string of lanterns soared up to her peak , from which position they were hidden from the chase by the intervention of the brig 's head-sails , and when the signal was at length complete I found , as I had quite expected , that it was a question as to whether we still held the stranger in view . This signal I answered in the negative , by means of a whip from the lee lower yard - arm , keeping the lanterns quite low , in the hope that they would thus escape the observation of the chase , and I then got a second signal from the commodore , which read : `` Steer as at present for one hour , then , failing further orders , haul wind to north-east . '' This signal I acknowledged in like manner as the first , and , while doing so , saw that the brig had taken in her studding-sails and hauled her wind . I noted the time , and found it to be close upon seven o'clock . Half an hour later , while Keene and I were below at dinner , the faint boom of a distant gun came floating down the open skylight to our ears , and Simpson , who had charge of the deck , poked his head down through the opening to make the report : `` Commodore signalling again , sir ! '' Snatching the signal book from the locker upon which it had been thrown , I dashed upon deck , and presently , by the light of the binnacle lamps , deciphered the signal as follows : `` Tack to south-east . '' `` Right ! ''