About twelve o'clock
About the forward gangway a band of overworked stevedores were stowing in the last of the cargo , aided by a donkey engine , which every now and then broke out into a spasm of sputtering coughs . At the passenger gangway a great crowd was gathered , laughing and exchanging remarks with the other crowd that leaned over the railings of the decks . There was a smell of pitch and bilge in the air mingled with the reek of hot oil from the engines . About twelve o'clock an odour of cooking arose , and the steward went about the decks drumming upon a snoring gong for dinner . Half an hour later the great whistle roared interminably , drowning out the chorus of `` good-byes '' that rose on all sides . Long before it had ceased , the huge bulk had stirred , almost imperceptibly at first , then , gathering headway , swung out into the stream and headed for the Golden Gate . Vandover was in the stern upon the hurricane deck , shaking his hat toward his father , who had tied his handkerchief to his cane and was waving it at him as he stood upon an empty packing-case .