five in the afternoon
Besides , several ice-mountains , in front of us , had just run aground on the edge of the shore . It was , then , useless to discuss whether we should take to the boat or not . According as we approached , the desolation of the land became more and more apparent , and the prospect of enduring six months ' wintering there would have appalled the stoutest hearts . At five in the afternoon , the iceberg plunged into a deep rift in the coast ending in a long point on the right , and there stuck fast . `` On shore ! On shore ! '' burst from every man , like a single exclamation , and the men were already hurrying down the slope of the iceberg , when West commanded : `` Wait for orders ! ''