eleven o'clock
Thus it happened that , one fine morning in the middle of June , he was hanging out over the stern in his usual posture , and , having finished the letters _ L'HEU _ , took a look around on the brightness of the day before dipping his brush and starting again . The galley with her five consorts lay in the Royal Basin under the citadel , and a mile in from the open sea , towards which the long line of the pier extended , its tall forts dominating the sand-dunes that stretched away to right and left . The sands shone ; the sea was a silvery blue , edged with a dazzle where its breakers touched the shore ; a clear northerly breeze came sweeping inland and hummed in the galley 's rigging as it flew by . From the streets of Dunkirk sounded the cheerful bustle of the morning 's business ; and as Tristram glanced up at the glistening spire of the Jesuits ' church , its clock struck out eleven o'clock as merrily as if it played a tune . It was just at this moment , as he turned to dip his brush , that he caught sight of a small boat approaching across the basin . It was rowed by a waterman , and in the stern-sheets there sat a figure the sight of which caused Tristram 's heart to stop beating for a moment , and then to resume at a gallop . He caught hold of the rope by which he hung , and looked again .