five o'clock in the evening
It was , therefore , reasonable to believe that the engineer 's apprehensions would not be justified , and that the presence of this vessel in the vicinity of the island was fraught with no danger . Pencroft , after a minute examination , was able positively to affirm that the vessel was rigged as a brig , and that she was standing obliquely towards the coast , on the starboard tack , under her topsails and topgallant-sails . This was confirmed by Ayrton . But by continuing in this direction she must soon disappear behind Claw Cape , as the wind was from the south-west , and to watch her it would be then necessary to ascend the heights of Washington Bay , near Port Balloon -- a provoking circumstance , for it was already five o'clock in the evening , and the twilight would soon make any observation extremely difficult . `` What shall we do when night comes on ? '' asked Gideon Spilett . `` Shall we light a fire , so as to signal our presence , on the coast ? ''