four o'clock in the morning
`` Vous n'avez pas peur ? '' `` It is terribly fast , '' said the girl breathlessly , and Rodier came to the conclusion that Captain Bunce 's opinion of his daughter 's linguistic ability was exaggerated . The moon had set , and the flight was continued in almost total darkness . At length , shortly before four o'clock in the morning , Smith caught sight of lights ahead . He had touched at Penang some years before , when his first ship was on her way out to the Australian station , and he knew that the most suitable place for alighting was a large open space , clear of vegetation and buildings , about a mile from the port . In a few minutes the aeroplane was flying over the sleeping town . He slackened speed , and circled around for some time , seeking the spot with the aid of his searchlight .