three o'clock in the morning
They get off at three in the morn in ' . '' Bird Riley took another drink , and then he toppled over . It was a favorable night for running the blockade , for the fog had settled down more densely upon the region in the vicinity of the ship channel , though it occasionally lifted , and permitted those on board of the Bellevite to see the tall tower of the Sand Island Lighthouse , which had not been illuminated for three years . The mists were generally thicker and remained longer towards daylight than at any other time , and this was the evident reason why three o'clock in the morning had been fixed upon for the departure of the Trafalgar and the West Wind in tow . The engineer 's head was as clear as it had ever been , notwithstanding the tipsy swaying and doubling-up of his body which he simulated , and he realized that his companion and himself had obtained very important revelations from the revellers . The hour at which the steamer was to leave , evidently by arrangement with the officers of the fort , was valuable knowledge , and he hoped they would be able to carry or send seasonable warning of the time to the Bellevite , for she was the only ship on the blockade that could be counted upon to overhaul the Trafalgar , if the reports of her great speed had been correctly given . Both Christy and Graines had listened attentively to the revelations of Bird Riley ; but neither of them could understand why the four men , including the mate , had deserted the West Wind only a few hours before she was to depart on her voyage to Nassau , where she was believed to be bound .