the hour of ten
It 's fortunate we 've just had our dinners . We shall hold out the longer . '' We scarcely exchanged another word for some hours , but kept wistfully glancing our eyes round the horizon , in the hopes of a sail appearing . Shortly before darkness came on , and the hour of ten passed by , I began to feel rather hungry . At the same time I happened to put my hand into my pocket , and there I found the greater part of a ship 's biscuit , which , as I was quitting the cabin , I had mechanically thrust into it . I almost shouted for joy as I found the prize -- though it was not much to be divided among four men . The discovery made the rest fumble in their pockets .