three o'clock in the afternoon
An acrid smell and a smudge of smoke told of what had really been , and a black heap of ruins where the familiar house had stood for so long confirmed their fears for their own property ; but to see the village content and smiling , except for a poor building or two , was joy enough to overbalance the personal loss . So those who expected a tearful and emotional home-coming were disappointed . Code met the dory that rowed ashore after Bijonah had made fast to his mooring in the little cove that was the roadstead for the fishing fleet . He had half expected to share the duty with Nat Burns since the recent change in his relations to the Tanners , but Burns did not put in an appearance , although it was three o'clock in the afternoon . Bijonah shook hands with him , and Ma Tanner kissed him , the latter ceremony being a baptism of happy tears that all were safe and alive . Bijonah cleared his voice and pulled hard at his beard . `` Understand you 're quite a hero , Code , '' he ventured bluffly , careful to conceal any emotion , but resolved to give the occasion its due .