three
o'clock in the afternoon
He made his figures on a piece of paper , and then laid off a course on the chart with a pencil , to be deepened in red ink at another time . Writing `` southeast by east '' on a slip of paper , he restored his charts and instruments to their places and left the state room . The two lieutenants were still in his cabin , but he did not disturb them and went on deck . Before he reached the bridge , six bells struck , or three o'clock in the afternoon . He then ascended the ladder to the bridge . The fog which the second lieutenant had predicted had not yet enveloped the ship ; on the contrary , it looked more like clearing off , and some patches of blue sky could be seen . `` Mr. Lillyworth , you will make the course southeast by east , '' said Christy , looking at the officer of the deck .