four o'clock
The second assistant would go direct from his state-room to duty in the engine-room and continue to drive the _ Narcissus _ at full speed until four o'clock , and inasmuch as it would be quite dark still when the third assistant came on at four o'clock to relieve the engineer on watch , there was not the slightest doubt in the minds of Murphy and the chief but that the deception could go on until breakfast . However , that would interfere with their plans . Long before that hour the men locked in the forecastle would have discovered their plight , and the noise of the discovery might reach below decks and bring up , to investigate , just a few more husky firemen and coal passers than even the redoubtable Terence Reardon could hope to cope with successfully . `` By four o'clock we 'll be more than fifty miles off the course Schultz was holding her on , '' the captain suggested . `` In all likelihood the German admiral wirelessed his last position and the course he was steering , and von Staden gave Schultz his course accordingly . '' `` Faith , we 're not a moment too soon at that , '' Mr. Reardon replied . `` Schultz was lookin ' for searchlights whin I tapped him .