They instantly put out, and rowed in the direction in which the boat would have gone, the boatmen expressing their opinion that probably the party would make for a vessel which was lying anchored at some little distance from shore.

The bearings of the position of this ship was known to the boatmen, but the night was so dark that they were quite unable to find it.

Orders had been given that no sound or whisper was to be heard on board the boat; and after rowing as far as they could, the boatmen said they were in the direction of the ship.
The boatmen all lay on their oars, and all listened intently.
Presently the creaking of a pulley was heard in the still night, at a distance of a few hundred yards.

This was enough.

It was clear that the vessel was getting up sail.