four
o'clock
Few had been so forehanded as George Houghton , who had the advantage of abundant means , and good , fearless help in his efforts . By this time , however , the square was well covered by almost every variety of hastily improvised shelters , and the rays of the late afternoon sun brought out rainbow hues , strange and picturesque effects , so diverse were the materials employed and the ingenuity in construction which had been exercised . Clancy had been almost reckless in his disposition to enter buildings , a risk which few others would incur on that day . He returned after four o'clock with a large supply of provisions , which he believed might be difficult to obtain should the shocks continue with greater violence . So far from observing that he was pale from exhaustion , Miss Ainsley was inclined to be reproachful that he had remained away so long . He listened wearily for a time , then answered , `` I did not think that I could be especially useful here . _ Men _ , like soldiers , _ must _ do what must be done .