about midnight
A faint blue level streak on the far eastern horizon indicated their close proximity to the sea , while certain shapeless irregularities that began to show up against that narrow streak of blue insensibly resolved themselves , as the ship sped onward , into a vast assemblage of enormous columns , isolated and in groups , some still upreared and perpendicular , others prostrate and broken , the remains of great temples and other buildings , that , judging from the elaborate and splendid carved work of the ruined entablatures , fallen capitals , crumbling arches , massive cornices , and mutilated statues , must , long ages ago , have formed part of a city of extraordinary extent and magnificence . The _ Flying Fish _ came to earth on , as von Schalckenberg asserted , the identical spot upon which she had rested on the occasion of their former visit , in the very midst of the vast ruined city , and the little company of travellers on board her spent a never-to-be-forgotten hour on her deck watching , in an ecstasy of delight , the constantly changing and magical effects of light , shade , and colour as the sun went down in a blaze of glory , lighting up with his departing beams the stupendously imposing and marvellous remains of ancient Ophir . As the party sat round the dinner-table that evening , Sir Reginald entertained that portion of them who had not then been present with a recital of what had occurred on the occasion of the ship 's previous visit to this interesting spot . `` We arrived here , '' said he , `` about the hour of sunset , and , after dinner , spent a very enjoyable evening in the music-room , retiring to our cabins about midnight , neither suspecting nor fearing evil of any sort . But when we rose next morning , and went out on deck for a turn before breakfast , Lethbridge very quickly discovered that the ship was beset by some hundreds of savages , who were lurking in the long grass and crouching behind the numerous small clumps of bush and flowering shrubs that surrounded us , and which you may possibly have noticed while we were watching the sunset effects upon the ruins this evening . `` Naturally we regarded this fact of our beleaguerment with perfect equanimity , for we felt that , so long as we remained in the ship , we were absolutely safe , except , perhaps , from a stray arrow or two , to which danger , however , we attached very little importance . But having come here with the specific object of examining the ruins , it was , of course , necessary that we should establish some sort of understanding with the natives and get on friendly terms with them ; so , after we had finished breakfast , finding that the savages were still ambushed about us , the professor arranged with Mildmay a little programme devised for the purpose of duly impressing them with our tremendous powers and wonderful attributes .