about ten
o'clock in the evening
Uncle Prudent began by rubbing a small quantity of the powder very fine ; and then , having slightly moistened it , he wrapped it up in a piece of rag in the shape of a match . When it was lighted he calculated it would burn about an inch in five minutes , or a yard in three hours . The match was tried and found to answer , and was then wound round with string and attached to the cap of the cartridge . Uncle Prudent had all finished about ten o'clock in the evening without having excited the least suspicion . During the day the work on the fore screw had been actively carried on , but it had had to be taken on board to adjust the twisted blades . Of the piles and accumulators and the machinery that drove the ship nothing was damaged . When night fell Robur and his men knocked off work .