about five o'clock
`` Why , laddie , you 'll be a blessed sight better off than if you were a middy aboard a man o ' war ! '' said Sam , exultantly ; but , whilst he was engaged showing me how to put my chest and stow my things , so as to be easily within reach and yet out of the way , in order not to encroach on the limited space at my command , our attention was drawn away from the consideration of such personal matters by the loud hail of Captain Billings ringing through the ship fore and aft -- `` All hands , make sail ! '' The pilot had come off from shore in the same boat with us ; and , as the only thing the _ Esmeralda _ had been awaiting was the water to rise sufficiently for her to cross the bar , Cardiff being a tidal harbour , now that it was approaching the flood , it was time to make ready for a start . We were going to make a move `` while the day was yet young , '' so to speak , for it was only about five o'clock yet in the afternoon . On hearing the skipper 's cry , Sam and I at once made our way aft up the ladder on to the poop , where Captain Billings was standing , shouting out his orders , according to the directions of the pilot standing beside him -- that gentleman , while in charge , being commanding officer , having the precedence of a captain even on board his own ship ! I was all eagerness to assist , and anxious to enter on my duties ; but the skipper motioned me aside , saying that he 'd put me into a watch and give me regular work to do as soon as we had got fairly to sea , for he `` did n't want any idlers hanging round them to encumber the men . '' So , acting on the principle that `` a nod was as good as a wink to a blind horse , '' I sheered over to the other side of the deck .