about one o'clock in the afternoon
The morning broke ; no sign of either boat . The wind had shifted to the east , and greatly abated . The fishermen began to have hopes for their comrades ; these communicated themselves to Mr. Fountain . It was about one o'clock in the afternoon when this latter observed people streaming along the shore to a distant point . He asked a coastguard man , whom he observed scanning the place with a glass , `` What it was ? '' The man lowered his voice and said , `` Well , sir , it will be something coming ashore , by the way the folk are running . '' Mr. Fountain got a carriage , and , urging the driver to use speed , was hastily conveyed by the road to a part whence a few steps brought him down to the sea .