four
in the afternoon
In a couple of hours more she was outside of Sandy Hook , and on the broad ocean . The ship 's company had been drilled to their duties , and everything worked to the entire satisfaction of the young commander . The wind was ahead and light . All hands had been stationed , and at four in the afternoon , the first dog watch was on duty , and there was not much that could be called work for any one to do . Mr. Lillyworth , the second lieutenant , had the deck , and Christy had retired to his cabin to think over the events of the day , especially those relating to the Scotian and the Arran . He had not yet read his orders , and he could not decide what he should do , even if he discovered the two steamers in his track . He sat in his arm chair with the door of the cabin open , and when he saw the first lieutenant on his way to the ward room , he called him in .