About eleven o’clock
Both ladies displayed great courage , fully equal to any of the party . Paganel descanted in the most inopportune manner about the direction of atmospheric currents , making interesting comparisons , between tornadoes , cyclones , and rectilinear tempests . The Major calmly awaited the end with the fatalism of a Mussulman . About eleven o'clock , the hurricane appeared to decrease slightly . The damp mist began to clear away , and a sudden gleam of light revealed a low-lying shore about six miles distant . They were driving right down on it . Enormous breakers fifty feet high were dashing over it , and the fact of their height showed John there must be solid ground before they could make such a rebound .