two o’clock
This vegetable cable was fastened to the after-part of the raft , and the sailor held it in his hand while Herbert , pushing off the raft with a long pole , kept it in the current . This succeeded capitally . The enormous load of wood drifted down the current . The bank was very equal ; there was no fear that the raft would run aground , and before two o'clock they arrived at the river 's mouth , a few paces from the Chimneys . Pencroft 's first care , after unloading the raft , was to render the cave habitable by stopping up all the holes which made it draughty . Sand , stones , twisted branches , wet clay , closed up the galleries open to the south winds . One narrow and winding opening at the side was kept , to lead out the smoke and to make the fire draw .