eight o'clock
The lads jumped into the taxi and were driven to the station , where they caught their train with time to spare . It lacked two hours of daylight when they arrived in Richmond . They took a taxi across town to the Chesapeake and Ohio station , where they caught a train for Newport News an hour later . At eight o'clock they were in Newport News , and fifteen minutes later stepped aboard the Essex . `` Glad to see you back , sir , '' said Lieutenant Hetherton , who held the deck . `` I suppose you 've heard -- '' `` Pipe all hands to quarters , Mr. Hetherton , '' Jack interrupted sharply , `` and clear ship for action . We sail within the hour . ''