nine o'clock
An afternoon of soft , warm autumn skies , aglow with the radiance of the setting sun , and brilliant in violet and gold , had been followed by a cold , gray morning . Of a sudden a cloud the size of a hand had mounted clear of the horizon , and called together its fellows . An unseen herald in the east blew a blast , and winds and sea awoke . By nine o'clock a gale was blowing . By ten Babcock 's men were bracing the outer sheathing of the coffer-dam , strengthening the derrick-guys , tightening the anchor-lines , and clearing the working-platforms of sand , cement , and other damageable property . The course-masonry , fortunately , was above the water-line , but the coping was still unset and the rubble backing of much of the wall unfinished . Two weeks of constant work were necessary before that part of the structure contained in the first section of the contract would be entirely safe for the coming winter .