About nine o’clock
`` I am a soldier , sir , '' was the servant 's prompt rejoinder , `` and I have learnt to know that ` what ca n't be cured must be endured . ''' The captain made no reply , but for a time , at least , he desisted from puzzling himself over matters which he felt he was utterly incompetent to explain . But an event soon afterwards occurred which awakened his keenest interest . About nine o'clock on the morning of the 27th , Ben Zoof walked deliberately into his master 's apartment , and , in reply to a question as to what he wanted , announced with the utmost composure that a ship was in sight . `` A ship ! '' exclaimed Servadac , starting to his feet . `` A ship !