About three
o'clock
It consisted of two bays -- the one I had already seen , and another , divided from it by a saw-edge of rock . In the further cove crouched a few low stone cottages . A broad-bottomed sailing boat lay there , pulled up high on the beach . About three o'clock , as I sat and watched , two men began to launch it . The sea ran high ; tide coming in ; the sou ' - wester still increasing in force to a gale ; at the signal-staff on the cliff , the danger-cone was hoisted . White spray danced in air . Big black clouds rolled up seething from windward ; low thunder rumbling ; a storm threatened .