nine o'clock
For the rest of the evening Cardo paced restlessly over the beach , buffeted by the strong wind , wetted by the spray , but still watching narrowly the bridge of rocks , which connected the island with the mainland . He knew for a certainty that Valmai was there , and he watched with intense interest the darkening island , over which the storm gathered with increasing fury . His plan was to wait until the tide went down , and then to cross the bridge himself , so as to help Valmai , or to prevent her attempting to return . After several hours ' waiting in the shelter of the cliff , he saw by his watch , which he was able to decipher by occasional gleams of moonlight , that it was near upon nine o'clock . The moon was hidden at intervals by heavy storm-clouds , which were hurrying before the wind ; but when her light shone out fitfully , it disclosed a scene of wild confusion ; the horizon was as black as ink , the seething sea beneath was white as snow , and the sound of the wind and waves was deafening . Over the Rock Bridge the sea rushed like a mill race one moment leaving it bare and black , the next covering it again with strong rushing billows of foam . `` She will not dare to return to-night , '' he thought , as he watched a tossing , foaming tower of spray , which rose in the centre of the bridge , where two streams of the seething waters met , and rose high in the air together .