three o'clock
But the young lieutenant held up his hand for silence . `` I am the captain of this ship and take orders , from no man , '' he announced bravely . `` One man has to stay behind and I reserve that honor for myself . '' He paused for an instant and then added : `` The first man will go out at three o'clock to-morrow morning . We shall have to get busy at that time before we have exhausted the compressed air that yet remains in our tanks . It will require considerable pound pressure for this job and we might as well be at it while there is yet time . As near as I can estimate we are not more than a mile off shore .