two o'clock
So long had he been gazing at the same object , that it was easy for the illusion to pass before his mind 's eye , of imagining a dim outline of the little lugger flying away , like the scud of the heavens , wing-and-wing , ever seeming to elude his observation . That night he dreamed of her , and there were haply five minutes during which his wandering thoughts actually portrayed the process of taking possession , and of manning the prize . Previously to this , however , signals were made to the other ships , ordering them to alter their courses , with a view to meet anticipated changes in that of le Feu-Follet . Lyon was sent to the westward , the Terpsichore a little easterly , while the Proserpine herself ventured so far as to steer southwest , after two o'clock . But a sudden and violent shift of wind came an hour before day . It was the expected -- nay , the announced -- sirocco , and it brought the lugger to windward beyond all dispute . The south breeze came strong from the first puff ; and , while it did not amount to a gale until the afternoon of the next day , it blew heavily , in squalls , after the first hour .