six o'clock
That 's a thunder-storm working up , but it wo n't break for some hours yet , I calculate , and them clouds is going to do me a good turn before that . I reckon you 'll have to make up your minds to go to Albatross Island yet , strangers . '' And he dived below to his cabin , evidently in an easier state of mind than he had enjoyed an hour before . By six o'clock the frigate 's topsails had risen more than half their height above the horizon , and when Lance , Captain Staunton , and Bowles returned to the deck after the evening meal , the waning light just enabled them to see the stranger 's lower yards fairly clear of the water . Before they lost sight of her altogether half her courses had risen into view . The night closed down very dark , there being no moon , and the sky was entirely overspread with heavy black murky-looking thunder-clouds which completely hid the stars . The wind , too , had dropped to such an extent that an occasional ominous flap was heard from the canvas aloft , though the brig still slid through the water at the rate of about four knots in the hour .