nine o'clock
For a man is a seaman or a musician quite independently of speech . So the running tackle was successfully bent , and in the evening the weather moderated . There was a half-moon , which struggled through the clouds soon after dark , and by its light the little English steamer sidled almost noiselessly under the shadow of her large companion . Captain Cable 's crew worked quickly and quietly , and by nine o'clock that work was begun which was to throw a noose round the necks of Prince Bukaty , Prince Martin , Captain Petersen , and several others . Captain Cable divided the watches so that the work might proceed continuously . The dawn found the smaller steamer considerably lightened , and her captain bright and wakeful at his post . All through the day the transshipping went on .