eight o'clock
The result of the somewhat informal council of war , for , in sober truth , it was nothing else , was that the commanders of the airships were invited to breakfast and the whole situation was calmly and plainly discussed by those who from the morning would probably hold the fate of the world in their hands . Not the least important of the aerograms which had been received during the early morning had been one , of course in code , from Captain Erskine of the _ Ithuriel _ from Harwich , welcoming the aërial fleet and giving details of his movements in conjunction with it for the next ten days . The aerogram also gave the positions of the lighters loaded with ammunition which he had deposited round the English shores in anticipation of its arrival . Soon after eight o'clock a heavy mist came down over Whernside and its companion heights , and Mr Parmenter went to one of the windows of the big dining-room and said : `` I reckon this will just about fit us , Mr Lennard , so , if you 've got your portmanteau packed , have it sent up to the _ Auriole _ at once , and we 'll make a start . '' Within thirty minutes the start was made , and with it began the most marvellous experience of Gilbert Lennard 's life , not even excepting his battle-trip in the conning-tower of the _ Ithuriel _ . `` All aboard , I think , Captain Roker , '' said Mr Parmenter , as he walked last to the top of the gangway ladder , and stood square-footed on the white deck of the _ Auriole _ . `` All aboard , sir , '' replied Hiram Roker , `` and now I reckon you 'll have to excuse me , because I 've got to go below just to see that everything 's in working order . ''