four o'clock in the morning
`` For that reason I gave out the course to the south-east . '' A careful examination of the chart and an extended calculation followed . It was agreed between the two naval officers that the Dornoch would go to the eastward till she fell into the track of vessels bound to the north-east from Jamaica , Cuban ports , or Mexico , and then put her head to the south-west . It was four o'clock in the morning , the cruiser had been out nine hours , and the captain dotted the chart where he believed she was at that moment . `` She has made all the easting necessary , and by this time she has laid her course about south-west , '' continued the commander . `` Captain Rombold will not hurry his ship , for he has no occasion to do so , and he will naturally save his coal . If our calculations are correct , we shall see the Dornoch about noon to-day ; '' and he pointed to the conjunction of the two courses as he had drawn them on a diagram .