eleven o'clock
before
Mr. Damon and Mr. Fenwick went with him , to aid in starting the motor and dynamo . Then , after the message had been clicked out as usual Tom would begin his weary waiting . They found that the earthquake shock had slightly disturbed the apparatus , and it took them half an hour to adjust it . As there had been a delay on account of the landslide , it was eleven o'clock before Tom began sending out any flashes , and he kept it up until midnight . But there came no replies , so he shut off the power , and prepared to get a little rest . `` It looks pretty hopeless ; does n't it ? '' said Mr. Fenwick , as he and Mr. Damon were on their way back to the sleeping shack .