three o'clock
You may guess , then , how welcome was your aid , which we had not expected for another three hours . We were on the point of abandoning the waist and gathering on the poop , which we could still have defended for a considerable time , when , as if dropped from the skies , you fell upon the pirates , and turned the tables . How is it that you were here so early ? '' `` We started at three o'clock , instead of waiting for daybreak . It seemed , from the story of the two young knights , that it was possible you might be attacked early , and , crippled as your command was , and with four prizes on your hands , I deemed it best to come on as soon as the rowers had had a few hours ' rest . '' `` It is well that you did so ; it would have been a grievous affair had two of our galleys been captured by the pirates . It would have been a blow to the prestige of the Order , and would have brought such strength to Hassan Ali and other pirate leaders that nothing short of sending out a fleet would have recovered our ascendancy ; and as every ducat we can spare has to be spent on the fortifications , it would have been a misfortune indeed had we been obliged to fit out such an expedition at present . ''