about
seven o'clock
Fortunately , excitement and the joy of finding myself not only once more under a pennant but actually in command , with a war before me in which I felt convinced I should have ample opportunity to prove my mettle , helped to keep me warm . And there was pride , too ; pride in my ship and pride in my crew ; for there was not a better or faster little ship in the fleet than the _ Kasanumi _ , while my crew , officers , and men alike , were splendid fellows , fine sturdy men , with the courage of lions , the lithe , light-footed activity of cats , and respectfully and promptly obedient to an extent which left nothing to be desired . My `` sub , '' a merry , light-hearted little fellow , named Ito , although more than a year my senior , displayed not an atom of jealousy , but carried out my every order with the same prompt , unquestioning alacrity as the men ; he was keen as mustard , and his chief , indeed his only , recreation seemed to be the working out of battle problems . For the first four hours of our voyage , while we were still well under the lee of the land , the water was moderately smooth ; but when , about seven o'clock that evening , the negotiation of the passage between the islands had been successfully accomplished , and we found ourselves fairly out at sea , and shifted our helms to pass to the northward of Quelpart Island , we soon found that we were in for a regular `` dusting . '' For we presently ran into a high , steep sea , which our shift of helm brought almost square abeam , yet just enough on our starboard quarter to set us all rolling and squirming most atrociously , particularly the `` mosquito '' division . Our every roll , whether to port or starboard , sent us gunwale under , so that it was only with the utmost difficulty we managed to retain our footing , while more than half my complement , on deck as well as below , suffered agonies of sea-sickness ; yet they stuck to their work like heroes . The spray swept us continually from end to end , flying high over the tops of our low funnels , and freezing as it fell , so that the watch on deck were kept busy chipping the ice off our decks and shovelling it overboard ; yet , wretchedly uncomfortable as was the weather , the destroyers , running at less than half-speed , rode the sea like gulls , and kept station with the utmost ease .