six o'clock
With which parting shot at what was generally believed to be Mr Stormcock 's particular weakness , and one which had delayed his promotion , Larkyns hopped down the after-hatchway on his way to the gunroom , I following after him , nothing loth to have some little refreshment after my long stay on deck , this having made me hungry again . Things were pretty quiet below , I found , most of the noisier spirits of the mess having eaten their fill and departed ; and , fortunately , the gunroom steward had not forgotten us late-comers , there being plenty of the `` water-bewitched '' sort of beverage that goes by the name of `` tea '' on board ship , albeit we had to be content with an extra allowance of sugar in lieu of milk . To make up for this , however , the good-natured Dobbs had thoughtfully reserved for the delectation of Larkyns and myself a fragment of some very stale cake , which , from the important air he assumed when presenting it to our astonished gaze , he evidently considered a great treat ; and , I was really sorry at Larkyns making some unkind remark or other about Noah and the Ark in connection with this venerable dainty that , I 'm sure , must have hurt the feelings of the steward , who meant to do us a kindness , no doubt , and , at all events , did his best ! At Four Bells , or six o'clock , I went on deck again with Mr Jellaby and the port watch , remaining on duty until the end of the second dog watch . By that time , we were passing the Bill of Portland , sailing close-hauled still down Channel on the starboard tack ; but , I was so tired out that I could hardly keep my eyes open , only knowing what the quartermaster kindly told me , so on getting below again soon after Eight Bells , I turned into my hammock without troubling much at undressing , and was `` as fast as a top '' within less than a minute of reaching the steerage . Next morning , on awakening , I was much surprised at everything being very quiet between decks , without any motion of the ship or rush of the water past her sides , and I wondered what had happened to cause this stillness . On turning out , however , my wonder was soon allayed by discovering that we had made Plymouth during the small hours , and were now anchored in the Sound , midway between Mount Edgecombe and the breakwater .