eight o'clock
After that I shall go out with Dick and bring the barge ashore . He will load up her tomorrow , and take her back single handed ; which can be done easy enough in such weather as this , but it is too much for one man if there is a strong wind blowing and driving her over to the one side or other of the river . '' As John Lirriper had expected , his daughter had prepared a pile of hot cakes for supper , and her face brightened up when she saw the party return punctually . The boys had been up early , and had slept but little the night before , and were not sorry at eight o'clock to lie down on the bed of freshly cut rushes covered with home spun sheets , for regular beds of feathers were still but little used in England . At five o'clock they were astir again , and their hostess insisted on their eating a manchet of bread with some cheese , washed down by a stoup of ale , before starting . Dick had the boat at the jetty ready to row them off , and as soon as they were on board the Susan preparations were made for a start . The mainsail was first hoisted , its size greatly surprising the boys ; then the foresail and jib were got up , and lastly the mizzen .