eight o'clock
The fixing and rigging of the pump was a work of considerable difficulty and danger , but it was eventually done ; and then Giaccomo and Francois , placing themselves one on each side , set resolutely to work , with the determination of not leaving off as long as a drop of water would flow from the spout . The clear stream which gushed out as soon as the brake was set going showed us unmistakably that we had not begun a moment too soon , and had we still entertained any doubt upon this point , it would have been dispelled by the length of time it took to clear the little craft of water . It was broad daylight when at length Giaccomo panted triumphantly , -- `` There she sucks ! '' Just before sun-rise we noticed the first indications of a break in the gale , and by eight o'clock it had so far moderated that our lee-rail was just awash , and instead of diving through the seas , as we had been ever since the gale struck us , the cutter managed to rise over everything but the heaviest . It was still too wet forward to permit of taking off the forecastle-hatch , but communication between cabin and forecastle could be effected by means of a sliding door in the bulkhead ; so Francois was sent below with instructions to prepare a thorough good breakfast , with plenty of hot coffee -- which , let me say , I have found infinitely more comforting and refreshing than spirits , after long exposure to wet or cold , or both combined . After the setting of the moon we had lost sight of the guarda-costa until dawn once more betrayed her whereabouts . When first seen she was hull-down and about three points on our lee quarter , still under her two lugs and jib .