three o'clock
and in what condition did you find the old ship after her long submersion at the bottom of the Hurd Deep ? '' `` Oh ! '' answered the professor , `` we managed well enough . We reached Portsmouth at three o'clock , and found the boat all ready for us -- that man , Sparshott , who has had the care of her , is a really good man , and a thoroughly discreet fellow -- so we at once got on board and made our way very soberly out of Portsmouth harbour , not putting on the speed until we were well clear of all observation . We cut ourselves rather too fine , however , in the matter of time , not arriving at our destination until it was nearly dark ; consequently we had some difficulty in finding our bearings , and at one moment I almost feared that we should have to defer our search until morning . But at length , just as we were seriously thinking of giving it up for the night , a lucky cast of the lead showed us to be immediately over the ship ; so I at once donned my diving-dress , went down , turned on my electric light , and found myself within half a dozen fathoms of the _ Flying Fish _ . After that , everything was easy .