nine o'clock
No ; I think that the safest plan for Don Hermoso , Carlos , and myself will be to remain quietly aboard here now , and not attempt to leave the yacht again so long as she remains in Cuban waters . '' And upon this opinion the trio acted , remaining below all the afternoon , and not venturing on deck at all until after darkness had fallen . Dinner was over on board the _ Thetis _ , and the three occupants of the saloon , with Milsom , had adjourned to the top of the deck-house to smoke their post-prandial cigars and enjoy the welcome coolness of the night air . The former were entertaining Milsom by relating to him a few of their recent adventures while operating against the Spanish troops when , just as three bells -LRB- half-past nine o'clock -RRB- was chiming out from the ships in the harbour , a violent concussion was felt by everybody on board the yacht , and simultaneously their ears were deafened by the sound of a terrific explosion . For a space of perhaps two or three seconds following this a dead silence prevailed , and then from the ships afloat and the streets and quays ashore there arose a low murmur , instantly changing to a confused clamour of hurrying feet and shouting voices , expressive of the utmost panic and dismay , which became a perfect uproar when , as everybody involuntarily turned toward the spot from which the explosion had seemed to proceed , it was seen that the American warship _ Maine _ was sinking rapidly by the head , while the after part of her was enveloped in flames . And as everybody stared in paralysed horror at the terrible sight , other explosions , though of a much less violent character , were heard on board her ! For a second or two astonishment and dismay seemed to have robbed everybody of all power of coherent thought or action ; then Milsom started to his feet and shouted in a voice that rang from end to end of the ship : `` Out boats !