three in the morning
He emerged upon the sand , bleeding from a score of wounds . Ngakura 's left arm was broken ; the fingers of her right hand were crushed ; and cheek and forehead were laid open to the bone . He clutched a tree that yet stood , and clung on , holding the girl and sobbing for air , while the waters of the lagoon washed by knee-high and at times waist-high . At three in the morning the backbone of the hurricane broke . By five no more than a stiff breeze was blowing . And by six it was dead calm and the sun was shining . The sea had gone down .