eleven o'clock in the morning
That evening , about half an hour before sunset , the transhipment of the materials for the boom having been effected , the transports containing Oku 's Second Army got their anchors and started for Pi-tse-wo , escorted by a portion of the fleet under Togo , while the remaining portion , consisting of the light , fast cruisers and a detachment of destroyers , proceeded to Port Arthur , to make assurance doubly sure by keeping an eye upon the Russian ships there . I subsequently learned that the latter appeared to be quite inactive , although the sounds of frequent loud explosions proceeding from the harbour indicated that the Russians were already busily engaged upon the task of attempting to blast a passage through the obstructing wrecks . By dint of wheedling entreaty and the most lavish promises on my part that I would on no account attempt to do any actual work , I succeeded in inducing the doctor to discharge me from the hospital on the second day after the departure of the Admiral , with General Oku 's transports , to Pi-tse-wo . I was discharged shortly after eleven o'clock in the morning , and was conveyed in a hand ambulance down to the landing-place , where my boat was waiting for me , having been semaphored for , the instant that I obtained my discharge . I was glad to find myself aboard my own little ship once more ; and the crew seemed to be as glad to see me as I was to see them ; for it appeared that during my absence the _ Kasanumi _ had been employed upon nothing but patrol work , which was not at all to the taste of my lads . Young Hiraoka , my lieutenant , seemed keenly disappointed when he learned that our most exciting work , for some time to come , was to be the construction of the long boom ; but philosophically remarked that no doubt as soon as the Russians learned what we were about , we should have a few of their destroyers paying us a call , when we might hope for a little fun . By the time that I got aboard , it was noon ; and I at once signalled the transports , asking how soon they could be ready to start .