about 5 o'clock in the
morning
`` Quite . It has been through several worse floods than this . It 's as strong as the hills , '' the despatcher affirmed . Despite the chief 's confidence , however , when about 5 o'clock in the morning there came reports of a second cloud-burst up the river , he requested Alex to call up Jack , at the yard tower which overlooked the bridge , and ask him to keep them posted . `` Tell him the crest of this new flood will likely reach us in half an hour , '' he added ; `` and that by that time , as it is turning colder , there 'll probably be a heavy fog on the river . '' Twenty-five minutes later Jack suddenly called , and announced , `` The new flood 's coming ! There is a heavy mist , and I ca n't see , but I can hear it .