four o'clock
Among others was that never-to-be-forgotten salutation from my King . He desired me to present myself at Hauptville , but for once I took it upon myself to disobey his commands . It took me two days -- or rather two nights , for we sank ourselves during the daylight hours -- to get all our stores on board , but my presence was needful every minute of the time . On the third morning , at four o'clock , the _ Beta _ and my own little flagship were at sea once more , bound for our original station off the mouth of the Thames . I had no time to read our papers whilst I was refitting , but I gathered the news after we got under way . The British occupied all our ports , but otherwise we had not suffered at all , since we have excellent railway communications with Europe . Prices had altered little , and our industries continued as before .