about eleven o'clock
We looked down upon the main street -- all was mirth and revelry ; fiddling and dancing and singing were to be heard from more than one house ; women in the street laughing , and now and then running and screaming when pursued by the men . `` This is all right , '' observed Bramble ; `` in an hour or two you 'll see how quiet everything will be ; but I shall not let them all go to bed before I set fire , for there may be some difficulty in waking them . I do n't see that there 's any lights down at the pier , where the vessels lie . '' We stayed up there till about eleven o'clock , Bramble watching the lights and sounds ; and when he considered that they had sufficiently decreased , he said , `` Now we 'll try it , Tom , and may success attend us ! '' We descended and found the mate and boatswain anxiously waiting for us . Bramble struck a light with his flint , and we carried it to the screen where we had piled the straw under the seats and against the panels . `` Now then , messmates , '' said Bramble , `` as long as the others sleep the better ; but if they waken in the confusion , bring here all the straw you can collect , for we must not fail for want of fuel . ''