three in the afternoon
I watched the weather closely last night , and if there had been a blow outside we should have felt some of the force of it , '' said Jack . He spoke calmly enough , but he gave Allison such a look that the latter did not think it safe to say another word until the brothers were well on their way toward home . During the rest of the day Jack and Marcy did little else but stroll about the grounds and talk -- they had no heart for work of any sort . Every time Jack took out his watch he would offer some such remark as this : `` If the expedition has had no bad luck , it ought to be off such and such a place by this time ; '' and at three in the afternoon he electrified his brother by declaring confidently : `` Now the ships are off Hatteras , and are probably looking about for a good place to put the troops ashore . '' And subsequent events proved that he guessed pretty close to the mark , for history says , `` By two o'clock on Tuesday the fleet arrived off Hatteras , and the _ Monticello _ was despatched to reconnoiter the position , and to look out a suitable landing-place . '' Thus far everything had gone well . The weather was all that could be desired , and the hearts of the loyal people along that coast beat high with hope ; but when Jack Gray drew the window curtain on Wednesday morning , he turned to his brother with a look of disappointment on his face .