seven o'clock
The little pier has its periods of activity and life , like the great world outside . At three or four o'clock , in the gray dawn , fishermen appear , singly , or two by two ; there is often then a failure of wind , and they have to get out to sea by heavy rowing or by the drift of the tide . Then there is silence for some hours , and when the world awakes the cove is nearly deserted . At seven o'clock begins the life of the shop . Amateur fishermen appear , -- boarders from New York or visiting sons from Brockton . Later still , little parties come down , -- a knot of young fellows and laughing girls with bright-colored wraps , bound on a sailing-party to Katameset , with a matron , and with some well-salted man to steer the boat , perhaps in slippers and a dressing-gown . They go singing out to sea .