six o’clock
Neither ship nor shore had appeared , and as the shocking hour of execution drew near , my dreams of deliverance melted away ; I shuddered in my very soul as I was brought face to face with the stern reality . I dared not look upon the victim , and whenever his eyes , so full of calmness and resignation , met my own , I turned away my head . I felt choked with horror , and my brain reeled as though I were intoxicated . It was now six o'clock , and all hope had vanished from my breast ; my heart beat rapidly , and a cold sweat of agony broke out all over me . Curtis and the boatswain stood by the mast attentively scanning the horizon . The boatswain 's countenance was terrible to look upon ; one could see that although he would not forestall the hour , he was determined not to wait a moment after it arrived . As for the captain , it was impossible to tell what really passed within his mind ; his face was livid , and his whole existence seemed concentrated in the exercise of his power of vision .