midnight
When , upon the boat being brought to the lee gangway , Dick led the way up the side , he was met at the entrance port by Bascomb , Winter , Dyer , and Harvey , each of whom at the same instant fired at him the question : `` Where is the Captain ? '' `` Lost -- taken , I fear , '' answered Dick . `` He left us four nights ago , intending to make his way into the city of Cartagena , for the purpose of learning precisely when the galleon is to sail , together with any other information which he might be able to pick up . His instructions were that I was to await his return until midnight to-night , and if he then failed to return it would be because something untoward had happened to him , in which case I was to rejoin the ship at once and report to you , when you would act according to your discretion after consulting together . '' For a moment there was a dead silence ; then Bascomb turned to his fellow officers , and said : `` My masters , this loss of our general is a very serious matter , and needs looking into . Let us all , therefore , retire to the cabin and hear what Mr Chichester has to tell us about it ; after which , as was arranged when Captain Marshall left us six nights ago , we must all consult together and decide what our next step is to be . Come then , gentlemen , to the cabin .