three o'clock
It was agreed that their best course would be to row along the shore until near the lights of the port , then to row out and lay on their oars half a mile beyond the entrance , where , as it was a starlight night , they would assuredly see the ship if she had come to anchor . As soon as the first dawn commenced they were to row out and meet the ship . Wrappings of cloth were fastened round the rowlocks to prevent noise , twelve men took the oars , the boat was shoved down into the sea , and they started on their voyage . The boat rowed but slowly , and it was , Harry judged , past three o'clock when they reached the point they had fixed on off the mouth of the harbor . No ship was visible outside the port , although there was sufficient light to have seen its masts had it been there . `` We had better go another half-mile further out , '' he said . `` Should they take it into their heads on shore , when they see us , to send a fast boat out to inquire what we are doing , it might overtake us before we could reach the ship . ''