about three o'clock
in the afternoon
It was a clear night . I ate my breakfast before the sun was up ; and heaving anchor , the wind being favorable , I steered the same course that I had done the day before , wherein I was directed by my pocket-compass . My intention was to reach , if possible , one of those islands , which , I had reason to believe , lay to the northeast of Van Diemen 's Land . I discovered nothing all that day ; but upon the next , about three o'clock in the afternoon , when I had , by my computation , made twenty-four leagues from Blefuscu , I descried a sail steering to the southeast : my course was due east . I hailed her , but could get no answer ; yet I found I gained upon her , for the wind slackened . I made all the sail I could , and in half-an-hour she spied me , then hung out her ancient , -LSB- 37 -RSB- and discharged a gun . It is not easy to express the joy I was in , upon the unexpected hope of once more seeing my beloved country , and the dear pledges I left in it .