four o’clock
The drops of water , dried by evaporation , no longer sparkled on the walls . The flaring torches began to grow dim . The one which Neb carried went out , and if they did not wish to find their way in the dark , they must hasten . This was done , and a little before four o'clock , at the moment when the sailor 's torch went out in its turn , Cyrus Harding and his companions passed out of the passage . The next day , the 22nd of May , the arrangement of their new dwelling was commenced . In fact , the settlers longed to exchange the insufficient shelter of the Chimneys for this large and healthy retreat , in the midst of solid rock , and sheltered from the water both of the sea and sky . Their former dwelling was not , however , to be entirely abandoned , for the engineer intended to make a manufactory of it for important works .