six in the morning
One evening they sat thus , mainly silent , for their talk had dwindled before the stilling influence of an unusual night . There was a great , full moon ; and the sea was mother-of-pearl . Almost every sound was hushed , for the air was but faintly stirring ; and the town lay panting , waiting for the night to cool . Offshore lay the fruit steamer _ Andador _ , of the Vesuvius line , full-laden and scheduled to sail at six in the morning . There were no loiterers on the beach . So bright was the moonlight that the two men could see the small pebbles shining on the beach where the gentle surf wetted them . Then down the coast , tacking close to shore , slowly swam a little sloop , white-winged like some snowy sea fowl .