nine o'clock in
the evening
Courage is of course an indispensable quality in every one who has to fight his Majesty 's battles , whether on sea or land ; but the ability to manoeuvre a ship in the heat of battle , so as to place her in the most advantageous situation with regard to her antagonist , is of fully equal importance ; and without the knowledge necessary to effect this , the most conspicuous courage , both of officers and crew , may become of no avail . Remember this , my lad , and lose no opportunity for perfecting yourself in the science of practical seamanship . Now let us go on deck again , as I hear the hands have turned to . '' We were busy the whole of that afternoon , and up until nine o'clock in the evening , the riggers working `` overtime , '' as the admiral was most anxious for us to go to sea at the earliest possible moment ; and Mr Annesley , during the time , was all over the ship , taking me with him , and keenly watching the fitting of every spar and piece of rigging , being fully determined that every part of the work should be well and conscientiously done . I thought him unnecessarily particular over what then seemed to me to be trifles ; but the time came , when I perceived that no part of the rigging or equipment of a man-o ' - war could be justly regarded as of trifling importance . The work being pushed forward thus energetically , we made rapid progress ; and on the day fortnight from my joining the ship , she was all ataunto , with sails bent , stores of every kind , including powder and shot , on board , fully manned , and , in fact , quite ready for sea . Captain Hood had paid a couple of flying visits to the ship since I had joined her , but I had not seen him , as I happened on both occasions to be away at the dockyard ; but on the morning in question he came on board about eleven o'clock -- his own gig having been sent on shore for him -- mustered the hands and read his commission , made us a short speech , and then went on shore again , previously giving Mr Annesley instructions to have everything ready for a start by three o'clock that afternoon .