About half past two
Take my word for it , you wo n't be fit for anything unless you have a square meal . ' I could n't help but admire the way in which the lad put heart into his brothers , and I felt confident that he would more than hold his end up when it came to the fighting . However , it seemed to me , the contest could end only one way and as a forlorn hope , I steered southwest on the chance of cutting across the course of one of the Pacific steamers , but all I succeeded in raising was the sail of a Borkentine low down to the south and a few points west . `` About half past two that afternoon the trouble began . The _ Shark _ was nearing the half-mile limit ; a long , gray boat of iron , built for speed and stripped of all superfluous tackle . '' ` They are getting ready to show their teeth , ' remarked John , pointing to a group of three men in the bow . `` Besides the men in the bow of the _ Shark _ , there were several in the waist leaning over the rail and sizing up the _ Storm King _ with cold and calculating eyes . ''