about four o'clock
Their marvelous reliability and intricacy are almost as awesome as the human anatomy . When both engines are going well , and synchronized to the same speed , the roar of the exhausts develops into one long-sustained and not inharmonious _ boom-m-m-m-m ! _ It is a song of pleasant melody to the pilot , whose ear is ever pricked to catch the first semblance of a `` sharp '' or `` flat '' note telling him that one or more of the twelve cylinders of each busy engine is missing fire and needs a little doctoring . It was about four o'clock that afternoon when our party first sighted the low , out-jutting sea-coast of Florida . As they came slowly toward it , by reason of their angular course of approach , they could gradually make out a group of green palms here and there along the white stretches of sand , and see clusters of light-colored buildings , piers , shipping , and people moving about . Thus they passed Juno and Palm Beach , and then saw the thicker cluster of fine dwellings of Miami itself , the most southerly city on the Florida mainland . Paul was guiding the Sky-Bird at this time , and turned her across the limpid waters of Biscayne Bay , cutting a huge circle above the town and slowly swooping downward toward the broad white beach , as he picked out a level stretch for landing .