Her head had been laid to the southwest, at the first appearance of the afternoon wind; and that frigate was now hull-down to seaward--actually making a free wind of it, as she shaped her course up between Ischia and Capri.

As for the Proserpine, when the bell struck three in the first dog-watch, she was just abeam of the celebrated little islets of the Sirens, the western breeze now beginning to die away, though, getting more of it, the ship was drawing ahead faster than she had been since the turn of the day.
Three bells in the first dog-watch indicate the hour of half-past five.
At that season of the year, the sun sets a few minutes past six.

Of course there remained but little more than half an hour, in which to execute the sentence of the law.

Cuffe had never quitted the deck, and he actually started when he heard the first sound of the clapper.
Winchester turned toward him, with an inquiring look; for everything had been previously arranged between them; he received merely a significant gesture in return.

This, however, was sufficient.