about eight o'clock
`` We left here at noon of the 2nd , escorted by the gunboats _ Akagi _ and _ Chokai _ , the second , third , fourth , and fifth destroyer divisions , and the ninth , tenth , and fourteenth torpedo-boat flotillas . `` When we started , the weather was everything that could be desired ; there was no wind , and the water was like glass , while , for a wonder , the air was crystal clear ; also there would be a good slice of moon to light us on our way after sunset . But the weather was too fine to last ; you know how it is in these seas , my dear chap . Toward sunset the barometer began to fall very rapidly , and about eight o'clock a fresh south-easterly breeze sprang up quite suddenly ; it became hazy , the sea got up rapidly , and by six bells in the first watch it was blowing hard , and the weather became so thick that we lost sight of each other . I heard to-day that Hayashi , seeing what was coming , made the signal to postpone the attempt ; but we never saw the signal , and went on , rolling and plunging through the short , choppy seas in the most uncomfortable manner . `` It appears that the alarm was first given to the Russians , about two o'clock next morning , by the appearance of what looked like a searchlight , far out at sea , directed full upon the mouth of the harbour . Of course the searchlight on Golden Hill was at once brought into play , and it chanced that as the beam swept the sea , five of our torpedo-boats were sighted , attempting to slip into the harbour .