about seven o'clock
The rockets were taken out and examined . They were big affairs of several pound weight and were intended for far-off signalling at sea . Andy , with the aid of the boys , Tom and Bill , soon constructed a rough sort of support from which to set off the fire-works . As soon as it grew dark , which it did about seven o'clock , preparations were made to try the experiment . With a whizz and roar the first rocket went sailing skyward . Up through the black night it went , trailing behind it a shower of fire and sparks . Then , with a loud report like that of a gun it burst directly over the ship and a rain of brilliantly colored globes of flame descended .