six in the evening
But his extreme effort only ended in the feeble lifting of his weakened head ; something like the incompleted movement of a sleeper . He could not manage it , but fell back in the hollow of his crumpled bed , partly chained there by death ; and each time , after the fatigue of a like shock , he lost all consciousness . To please him they opened a port at last , although it was dangerous , the sea being very rough . It was going on for six in the evening . When the disk was swung back , a red light entered , glorious and radiant . The dying sun appeared upon the horizon in dazzling splendour , through a torn rift in a gloomy sky ; its blinding light glanced over the waves , and lit up the floating hospital , like a waving torch . But no air rushed in ; the little there was outside , was powerless to enter and drive before it the fevered atmosphere .