nine o'clock
He could think of nothing but the work ahead of him , of the rendezvous in the darkness at Hell Gate . The little steamer , ploughing her way through the water , seemed to Captain Hardy to be almost motionless , so keen were his fears that he would be too late . He pulled out his watch and groaned . The boat was well into the East River , but it was already almost nine o'clock . In agony of mind he began to pace up and down the deck . `` Got an answer , '' said Lieutenant Gavigan , suddenly coming out of the cabin , and he thrust a paper into Captain Hardy 's hand . The latter stepped toward the light and read it .