About ten o'clock
In addition , his journalistic training had instilled deeply one of the first rules of the profession , accuracy , and to tell the truth he was rather ashamed to go to Colonel Snow with so little evidence to back up his story , and so he determined to `` keep tabs , '' as he called it , on Monkey Rae , and knowing he could handle that young man physically to capture him redhanded and take him in dramatic fashion before the Captain . Jack had no doubt that Dublin would carry out any scheme he had in mind at the first opportunity , and that the attempt to get into the hold would be made at a hatchway on the same deck with the steerage . The hold at this part of the ship being filled with machinery and other heavy freight , the hatch cover was not battened down and most of the time was left partially off in order to give a circulation of air through that part of the hold under the steerage . About ten o'clock that night , Jack slipped away from his companions , and descended to the engine room deck , where he took up his place behind some packing cases , and awaited developments . Nearly all the steerage passengers were in their quarters , for the night was keen and there was little enjoyment in the open air . An hour passed and Jack was becoming weary of his vigil , especially in view of the uncertainty of the coming of his quarry . Then , from the passageway leading to the steerage a slim figure emerged and by the dim light of the lamp which illuminated this part of the deck , Jack was just able to recognize Monkey , who carried in one hand a hatchet , and something like a policeman 's club in the other .