about nine o'clock
Dry we were not , nor did we think of attempting to be so , but such expedients were necessary to enable us to remain stationary ; often to enable us to breathe . I no longer wondered at the manner in which the cutter and frigate had examined our position . It was quite clear the fishermen knew very little about finding a proper berth for a ship , and that we might pretty nearly as well have brought up in the middle of St. George 's channel , could our ground-tackle reach the bottom , as to have brought up where we were . Just about nine o'clock , Marble and I had got near each other on the fife-rail , and held a consultation on the subject of our prospects . Although we both clung to the same top-sail-sheet , we were obliged to hallow to make ourselves heard , the howling of the wind through the rigging converting the hamper into a sort of tremendous Eolian Harp , while the roar of the water kept up a species of bass accompaniment to this music of the ocean . Marble was the one who had brought about this communication , and he was the first to speak . `` I say , Miles , '' he called out , his mouth within three feet of my ear -- `` she jumps about like a whale with a harpoon in it !