About eight in the evening
`` Stop here to take in commissary stores for Fort Yuma , '' explained the thin , sallow , grave , meek-looking , and yet resolute Yankee mate . The chain cable rattled through the hawse hole , and in no long while the loading commenced , lasting until nightfall . During this time Coronado chanced to learn that an officer was expected on board who would sail as far as San Diego ; and , as all uniforms were bugbears to him , he watched for the new passenger with a certain amount of anxiety ; taking care , by the way , to say nothing of him to Clara . About eight in the evening , as the girl was playing some trivial game of cards with Garcia in the cabin , a splashing of oars alongside called Coronado on deck . It was already dark ; a sailor was standing by the manropes with a lantern ; the captain was saying in a grumbling tone , `` Very late , sir . '' `` Had to wait for orders , captain , '' returned a healthy , ringing young voice which struck Coronado like a shot . `` Orders ! ''