six o'clock
They got out the boats to carry the kedges and set them firm , and tried to row her out of it by uniting all their forces together upon the tow-lines -- a heavy piece of work this , which lasted ten successive hours . So , when evening came , the poor bark , which had only that morning been so fresh and light , looked almost swamped , fouled , and good for nothing . She had fought hard , floundered about on all sides , but still remained there , fixed as in a dock . Night was overtaking them ; the wind and the waves were rising ; things were growing worse , when , all of a sudden , towards six o'clock , they were let go clear , and could be off again , tearing asunder the tow-lines , which they had left to keep her head steady . The men wept , rushing about like madmen , cheering from stem to stern -- `` We 're afloat , boys ! '' They were afloat , with a joy that can not be described ; what it was to feel themselves going forwards on a buoyant craft again , instead of on the semi-wreck it was before , none but a seaman feels , and few of them can tell . Yann 's sadness had disappeared too .