nine o'clock
But we 'll make an excursion of it to see the sights , sir . We can afford a little trip after what we pulled down to-day . '' There was no hope of reaching the wreck before nightfall , so they jogged comfortably in the light westerly that had succeeded the gale . Captain Candage took the first watch after the second dog-watch , and at two bells , or nine o'clock , in the evening , Mayo awoke and heard him give orders to `` pinch her . '' He heard the sails flap , and knew that the men were shortening in readiness to lay to . He slipped on his outer clothing and went on deck . `` We 're here , '' stated the old skipper , `` and it looks like some other moskeeters had got here ahead of us , ready to stick in their little bills when they get a chance . ''