midnight
`` Be n't goin ' alone , be ` e ? '' asked Renatus Warne . `` Yes , '' said I. `` The conger 'll have ` ee then , sure enough . '' One or two offered chaffingly to come out and search for me if I should n't return before midnight ; and a volley of facetious warnings followed me out upon the calm sea . The beach was deserted , however , when I returned . I had hooked three fine conger ; and having hauled up the boat and cleaned her , I made my way back to the vicarage , well pleased , getting to bed as the clock struck two in the morning . This was Thursday ; and in the evening , between seven and eight o'clock , I launched the boat again under the eyes of the population and started fishing on the inner grounds , well in sight of the Porth .