nine o'clock
Everyone believed that by evening the schooner would be at the foot of the berg . Of course we had all to lend a hand to this difficult task . To each man a special duty was assigned ; some were employed to facilitate the sliding with wooden rollers , if necessary ; others to moderate the speed of the hull , in case it became too great , by means of hawsers and cables . We breakfasted at nine o'clock in the tents . Our sailors were perfectly confident , and could not refrain from drinking `` success to the event '' ; and although this was a little premature , we added our hurrahs to theirs . Success seemed very nearly assured , as the captain and the mate had worked out the matter so carefully and skilfully . At last we were about to leave our encampment and take up our stations -LRB- some of the sailors were there already -RRB- , when cries of amazement and fear were raised .