four o'clock
He was on the bridge a few minutes before eight bells rang , and found the captain . He knew his chief 's customs . He knew that this wise old sailor was in the habit of accumulating as much sleep in his brain as possible before passing Ushant light , because he lived on the bridge when the Croonah had once turned eastward up the Channel . Whenever the captain took a night 's rest , he broke it at four o'clock , at the change of the watch . He stood muffled in a big coat over his pyjamas , and exchanged a few words with his subordinates . After the first officer had gone below , Luke went to his post at the starboard end of the bridge , while the captain walked slowly backwards and forwards . They remained thus for half an hour .