about four o'clock
But she was heavy for this style of propulsion , and I estimated that our progress did not amount to more than three-quarters of a mile per hour . It was a night of great discomfort , a storm of wind and rain arising , and the day which followed was little if any better , the same weather conditions prevailing throughout . I continued to scull the boat at intervals all through the day , but it was horribly distressing work , the distress being aggravated by the knowledge that it was all for so small a result , since I estimated that by the end of the day we had accomplished little more than six miles of progress . It was about four o'clock that afternoon when my fast-failing energies received a fresh stimulus . I had been wearily toiling at the oar for about an hour , facing west so that I might be guided in my course by the pale blotch of light which represented the position of the sun , when a cry from Julius , who was the only alert member of the party , caused me to turn my head . I saw him pointing eagerly toward the north-eastern quarter . `` Are n't those the masts of a ship over yonder , Mr Leigh ? ''