four o'clock in the afternoon
One peculiarity of the bawleys is that , when at anchor , the mainsail , instead of being stowed with its spars parallel to the deck , is made up on its gaff , which is then hoisted with the throat seven or eight feet up the mast , while the peak rests on the stern . This is done to give more room on deck , and enable the men to get more easily in and out of the fo ` castle . It has , however , a curious appearance , and a fleet of bawleys at anchor resembles nothing so much as a flock of broken-backed ducks . Ben Tripper and his mate , Tom Hoskins , finished tarring the boat under her water-line soon after four o'clock in the afternoon , Jack 's share of the work consisting in keeping the fire blazing under the pitch kettle . `` What time shall we go out , uncle ? '' `` Not going out at all , Jack . We will finish tarring her the first thing in the morning , and there are two or three odd jobs want doing . ''