about
eleven in the morning
One sultry day I was wading in the shallows after crabs , when the Governor 's messenger came drifting in , all impatience at the lack of wind . He ran to the house to seek Mr. Carvel , and I after him , with all a boy 's curiosity , as fast as my small legs would carry me . My grandfather hurried out to order his barge to be got ready at once , so that I knew something important was at hand . At first he refused me permission to go , but afterwards relented , and about eleven in the morning we pulled away strongly , the ten blacks bending to the oars as if their lives were at stake . A wind arose before we sighted Greensbury Point , and I saw a bark sailing in , but thought nothing of this until Mr. Carvel , who had been silent and preoccupied , called for his glass and swept her decks . She soon shortened sail , and went so leisurely that presently our light barge drew alongside , and I perceived Mr. Zachariah Hood , a merchant of the town , returning from London , hanging over her rail . Mr. Hood was very pale in spite of his sea-voyage ; he flung up his cap at our boat , but Mr. Carvel 's salute in return was colder than he looked for .