ten minutes past six in the
evening
He landed , dried himself and resumed his clothes . A very gentle ascent led him , after some five hundred yards , to a reef , overtopped by actual hills of sand , but of sand so firm that he did not hesitate to set foot on it . He therefore climbed till he reached the highest crest of these hills . And it was here , at this spot -- where a granite column was raised subsequently , with an inscription in letters of gold : two names and a date -- it was here , on the 4th of June , at ten minutes past six in the evening , above a vast amphitheatre girt about with sand-hills like the benches of a circus , it was here that Simon Dubosc at last saw , climbing to meet him , a man . He did not move at first , so strong was his emotion . The man came on slowly , sauntering , as it were , examining his surroundings and picking his way . When at last he raised his head , he gave a start of surprise at seeing Simon and then waved his cap .