about
midnight
He rubbed his hands with fiendish glee as he thought of this , and slapped Dickinson playfully on the shoulder as he bid him commence the necessary work forthwith . Thereupon Dickinson boldly stated that he must have the advice and assistance of Captain Staunton and Lance , as he did n't know enough about cradles and ways and suchlike to build 'em properly , and he could n't find anybody on the island as did ! The ex-boatswain 's mate was in hopes that this proposition of his would load to at least a temporary amelioration of the condition of his two friends , if not the absolute establishment of a better state of things ; but his hopes were unexpectedly and effectually quenched by the announcement that the Greek knew all about it , and intended to superintend that part of the work himself . The time had now arrived when a definite plan of action at the decisive moment ought to be fully agreed upon ; and feeling this , Dickinson arose from his bunk about midnight that night , and lighting his pipe sauntered in the direction of the Black Hole , hoping for an opportunity to confer and finally arrange matters with the prisoners confined therein . To his great disappointment and chagrin he found the door of the place -- a small low building roughly but very solidly constructed of stone , with no windows and no means of ventilation save such as was afforded by the momentary opening of the door for ingress or egress -- guarded by a couple of the most ruffianly of the pirates , fellows who were completely the creatures of Ralli , and who had on more than one occasion thrown out strong hints of their suspicion that Dickinson was on more friendly terms than he ought to be with the men now in confinement . To their searching inquiries as to the reasons for Dickinson 's untimely and suspicious visit to them the ex-boatswain 's mate was driven to reply with a complaint as to the extreme heat and closeness of the night , and of his inability to sleep in consequence , his restlessness being such as to constrain him to rise and come outside for a smoke and a chat with somebody ; and , there being no one else to chat with , he had just come to them . To this explanation he added a careless offer to relieve them of their guard for the rest of the night ; but this offer provoked such an expression of unqualified suspicion from both the guards that he at once saw he was treading on very dangerous ground , and was accordingly fain to abandon his well-intentioned effort to communicate with those inside the prison door .