Four o'clock in the morning
He had felt quite sad when his big brother had so turned the holy sacrament of marriage into ridicule ; and it particularly had frightened him , as he was superstitious . For so long , too , he had mused on Yann 's marriage ! He had thought that it might take place with Gaud Mevel , a blonde lass from Paimpol ; and that he would have the happiness of being present at the marriage-feast before starting for the navy , that long five years ' exile , with its dubious return , the thought of which already plucked at his heart-strings . Four o'clock in the morning now . The watch below came up , all three , to relieve the others . Still rather sleepy , drinking in chestfuls of the fresh , chill air , they stepped up , drawing their long sea-boots higher , and having to shut their eyes , dazzled at first by a light so pale , yet in such abundance . Yann and Sylvestre took their breakfast of biscuits , which they had to break with a mallet , and began to munch noisily , laughing at their being so very hard .