six
o'clock
As soon as we were through with this work Mr Kennedy instructed me to ship and set the patent log , which I did , taking the exact time when it started , and noting what it registered fifteen minutes later . The result was that we found we were doing just twelve knots , with the wind dead aft and our head sails practically becalmed by our after canvas . The first mate 's prophecy concerning the easting of the wind proved a true one , for when we hauled up a couple of points after rounding Dungeness it followed us , keeping dead astern . At four bells -LRB- six o'clock -RRB- we mustered holystones and scrubbing-brushes , attached the hose to the fire hydrant , and industriously washed , scrubbed , and holystoned the decks and cleaned paintwork for an hour , after which the planks were thoroughly squeegeed and dried . Then all hands went to work to polish brasswork until eight bells , by which time the ship looked as spick and span as if she had been kept under a glass case , just removed . When eight bells struck , Beachy Head bore North-North-West by compass , distant fourteen miles . Prompt at the stroke of the bell , Mrs Vansittart came up on deck , dressed in her blue serge seagoing rig , and bade us a cheery good morning .