about ten o'clock
He began to see that he was approaching that island , and that before long he would reach it . This prospect excited in his mind the utmost hope , and all his attention was now directed towards that place . The time passed slowly , but it did pass ; and at length , about three hours after he had first tried to turn the boat , he found himself so close to the island that he could step ashore . It was now about ten o'clock . The place where David landed was a pebbled beach , bordered by rocks , above which grew trees . As he approached the island he saw houses and people . The houses were plain and small , and the people seemed laboring in the fields .