nine o'clock
Eight bells having struck , the watches were changed ; but except possibly a man in the engine room getting up steam -- for smoke was pouring out of the four funnels -- no one was at stations . The watch on deck was scattered about forward ; and Forsythe had given way to Jenkins , who , with his eye fixed to a long telescope , was scanning the horizon from the bridge . Denman , for over forty-eight hours without sleep , would have turned in had not curiosity kept him awake . So he waited until nine o'clock , when Forsythe , with Munson 's help , took morning sights , and later until ten , when Forsythe handed Jenkins a slip of paper on which presumably he had jotted the boat 's approximate position . Immediately Jenkins rang the engine bells , and the boat forged ahead . Denman watched her swing to a starboard wheel ; and , when the rolling gave way to a pitching motion as she met the head sea , he glanced at the after binnacle compass . `` Northwest by north , half north , '' he said .