about four
o'clock in the afternoon
Thus occupied the time passed swiftly away , and almost before we were aware of it the commandant , who had looked in upon us to see how we were progressing , announced that it was time for us to see about returning to the castle . He walked back with us , chatting most affably all the way ; and on reaching our rooms we found a tailor awaiting us , by his orders , to take our measures for a new outfit of rigging . The first instalment of this , in the shape of a loose white nankin suit apiece , with shirt , stockings , light shoes of tan-coloured leather , crimson silk sashes -- to serve instead of braces -- and broad-brimmed cane-hat , all complete , awaited us on our waking a couple of mornings later , much to our gratification , as the idea grew upon us that the castle contained other inmates besides the commandant , and we were anxious to avoid a rencontre with these so long as we retained our ragged , scarecrow appearance . We had been at work about a week ; Courtenay had completed the hull of his frigate , and was busy about her spars , whilst I was putting the finishing touches to a figure-head for my seventy-four , when , about four o'clock in the afternoon , our workshop suddenly became darkened to such an extent that we could no longer see to work . Looking up and glancing out of the window , we observed that , unnoticed by us , a heavy thunder - storm had been gathering over the sea , and the clouds , setting shoreward , were now hovering immediately overhead . That it was likely to be a severe storm was manifest , the sky being blacker than I had ever seen it before . We were debating upon the advisability of effecting an immediate retreat to the castle , and taking our chance of reaching it before the storm should burst , when a vivid flash of lightning , green and baleful , quickly succeeded by a most deafening peal of thunder , decided us to remain where we were .