midnight before
Mr. Rhett was quite sure that he had discovered the lair of the big game he was looking for . Just before dark , three boats , well filled with men , had appeared from up the river , and they had looked so formidable that everything had been made ready to resist an attack from them . They retired , but every now and then during the night , when there was quiet for a few minutes , there would come down the river on the wind the sound of distant hammering and the noise of saws . It was after midnight before the Henry and the Sea Nymph floated free , but they anchored where they were and waited for the morning . Whether they would sail up the river after the pirate or whether he would come down to them , daylight would show . Mr. Rhett 's vessels had been at anchor for five hours , and every man on board of them were watching and waiting , when daylight appeared and showed them a tall ship , under full sail , rounding the distant headland up the river . Now up came their anchors and their sails were set .