five o'clock
At last , near the summit of the tall , angular headland , the gig came abruptly to a standstill . The horse was tied up , and the two men , scarcely able to keep their feet , staggered to the cliff edge . There for half an hour they lay , straining their eyes seaward , with the full fury of the blast on their faces . It was hopeless to expect to see anything , for the rain drove blindingly in their eyes , and , though scarcely five o'clock , the afternoon was almost as dark as evening . `` Could they possibly drive clear of the point ? '' asked the doctor . `` Not possibly , I think .