eleven o'clock
These details agreed upon , they determined to proceed with their arrangements that same night . Accordingly , as soon as the evening meal was over , the men retired to their bunks for a few hours ' sleep -- all , that is to say , except Dale , who , quite unaccustomed to bodily labour , felt thoroughly exhausted with his day 's work , and was therefore readily excused . He volunteered , however , to remain up on watch until all the lights in the pirates ' quarter were extinguished , and then to take a good look round the settlement , and call the others when all was quiet ; a raid upon the capstan-house being the first thing necessary to enable them to carry out their plans successfully . The pirates , working hard all day in the open air , were , as a rule , tolerably early birds ; and by eleven o'clock that night the place was wrapped in darkness and repose . Having thoroughly satisfied himself that this was the case , and that the coast was quite clear for his comrades , Dale roused the latter and then tumbled into his own berth with the comforting reflection that he had at last taken the right course , and done something to regain that respect from his companions which he was beginning to be acutely conscious of having forfeited . Five minutes later four forms might have been seen -- had anyone been on the look-out -- stealing quietly across the open space between Staunton Cottage and the capstan-house . Fortunately no one was on the look-out , and they reached the building undiscovered , ascended the ladder , and found themselves standing in the thick darkness which enshrouded the long loft-like apartment .