about four o'clock
in the afternoon
My next task , therefore , was to complete the fitting of the planks and the nailing of them in position , which I at once proceeded to do , with the fixed determination to finish the job before dark . This determination I carried out , although it necessitated my working for an hour by lantern light ; and when at length I knocked off , I had the satisfaction of leaving the boat completely decked with the exception of the cockpit , the coaming of which I also insisted on fixing before I could persuade myself to lay down my tools . The day had been one of lowering , breathless calm , with an insufferably close atmosphere that rendered hard work exceedingly trying , and the black , working canopy of cloud that overhung us continued to writhe and twist itself into the most extraordinary shapes , while it showed no sign of dispersing . This state of affairs continued until about four o'clock in the afternoon , when a light , puffy , southerly breeze sprang up which gradually freshened until , when at length I ceased work for the day , it was blowing quite gustily , while a sea came rolling in over the reef that soon caused the wreck occasionally to rock lightly upon her coral bed . I was very tired after my strenuous labours that day ; moreover , I had not yet fully recovered the strength that I had lost during my illness ; therefore , under ordinary circumstances , I should have gone to my cabin and turned in soon after dinner . But as it was , I felt uneasy . I did not at all like the look of the weather ; I felt convinced that we were booked for a blow , possibly a heavy one ; and a further reference to the barometer fully confirmed me in that conviction .