1:30 p.m.
On parting from the _ Fawn _ we filled away again upon the starboard tack , the wind being off the shore , and at noon brought the ship to an anchor in nine fathoms of water off Padron Point -LRB- the projecting headland on the southern side of the river 's mouth -RRB- at a distance of two miles only from the shore . The order was then given for the men to go to dinner as soon as that meal could be got ready ; it being understood that , notwithstanding the _ Fawn 's _ assurance as to there being no ships in the river , our skipper intended to satisfy himself of that fact by actual examination . Moreover , the deserted state of the river afforded us an excellent opportunity for making an unmolested exploration of it -- making its acquaintance , so to speak , in order that at any future time , if occasion should arise , we might be able to make a dash into it without feeling that we were doing so absolutely blindfold . At 1:30 p.m. the gig was piped away ; Mr Austin being in charge , with me for an _ aide _ , all hands being fully armed . The wind had by this time died away to a dead calm ; the sun was blazing down upon us as if determined to roast us as we sat ; and we had a long pull before us , for although the ship lay only two miles from the shore , we had to round a low spit , called , as Mr Austin informed me , Shark Point , six miles away , in a north-easterly direction , before we could be said to be fairly in the river . For this point , then , away we stretched , the perspiration streaming from the men at every pore . Fortunately the tide had begun to make before we started , and it was therefore in our favour .