four o'clock
`` St. Vincent , '' said Luke tersely , as he turned to leave the bridge . The first officer , a man grown old at his post , followed the direction of his junior 's gaze , but some seconds elapsed before he distinguished the light twinkling feebly low down on the horizon . Luke went to his cabin and lay down on his berth all dressed . He was due on the bridge again at four o'clock . The Croonah sailed by time-table , subjecting the winds and seas , as the great steamships do nowadays . Luke FitzHenry had calculated this to a minute before he telegraphed the single word `` Milksop '' to Willie Carr in London . He was on the bridge a few minutes before eight bells rang , and found the captain .