four o'clock
Then , after looking for an instant at the helmsman 's downcast face on receiving this strange answer , he added -- `` Strike eight bells , my dear ; there is the sun rising over there behind the mountains : we will call the watch . '' And , after restoring his pipe to the corner of his mouth , he resumed his walk . The sailor seized the cord fastened to the clapper of the bell , and struck four double strokes . At this signal they knew so well , the men lying in the forecastle sprang up tumultuously , and rushed to the hatchway , shouting -- `` Up with you , starboard watch ; up , up , it is four o'clock . Starboard watch , ahoy ! '' So soon as the watch was changed , the master gave the necessary orders to dress the vessel . Then , as the sun was beginning to rise above the horizon in a flood of ruddy vapour , which gradually dispersed the dense fog , that had enveloped the brig throughout the night , like a winding-sheet , he set a man to the foretop to look seaward , and examine the coast they were sailing along .