twenty minutes after six
And to see the best of good skippers -- as our dear old salt tute was -- let himself down in a right angle after that on the deck , his back against the weather-side of the mast , and , heaving a sigh of vast internal satisfaction , draw out his pipe slowly , as if it was a ceremony too precious to be hurried , and , having put it just right in his lips and lighted it , puff the first long sweet wreaths of smoke ; ah ! that was a picture of creature happiness . The absence of Mr Clare was the only drawback to our pleasure that morning . He had told us the evening before that he should probably return from his visit the same day , getting home about the time we expected to be back -- about sundown , which at that date in September was at twenty minutes after six . He said , however , that possibly he might remain in Q -- town until after Sunday morning service . When Captain Mugford had completed his smoke , by which time we had a fine steady breeze from the south-east , he rose from his luxurious position and took Walter 's place at the helm , saying -- `` Not a permanent removal , Walter , but only until I can put the cutter just where I want her for fish . Fifteen minutes more will do that ; so you had better go forward to Drake and get the anchor all ready to let go .