ten o’clock
Gradually the breeze grew fainter , and then ceased entirely . The sail flapped idly against the mast , and John had it furled . The tide alone carried the raft to the shore , but steering had become impossible , and its passage was impeded by immense bands of FUCUS . At ten o'clock John found himself almost at a stand-still , not three cables ' lengths from the shore . Having lost their anchor , they were at the mercy of the ebb-tide . John clenched his hands ; he was racked with anxiety , and cast frenzied glances toward this inaccessible shore . In the midst of his perplexities , a shock was felt .