midday
In that one glimpse through his binoculars the master , and he alone of the crew , had recognised the child -- Calvin Rosewarne , his owner 's son . To their credit , the men pulled back for the spot where the _ One-and-All _ had gone down . Not till an hour 's battling had taught them the hopelessness of a search hopeless from the first did they turn the boat and head again for Brixham . The news , telegraphed from Brixham , began to spread through Troy soon after midday . Since the law allowed it , over-insurance was accepted by public opinion in the port almost as a matter of ordinary business ; almost , but not quite . In his heart every citizen knew it to be damnable , and voices had been raised in public calling it damnable . Men and women who would have risked nothing to amend the law so far felt the public conscience agreeing with their own that they talked freely of Rosewarne 's punishment as a judgment of God .