eleven o'clock
If the Captain , I reasoned , does n't forbid me , I break no orders by going . Now this was a specious line of argument , and the mishaps that befell me in consequence of adopting it were richly deserved . On the evening of the 3d I retired to bed very early , in order to disarm suspicion . I did n't sleep a wink , waiting for eleven o'clock to come round ; and I thought it never would come round , as I lay counting from time to time the slow strokes of the ponderous bell in the steeple of the Old North Church . At length the laggard hour arrived . While the clock was striking I jumped out of bed and began dressing . My grandfather and Miss Abigail were heavy sleepers , and I might have stolen downstairs and out at the front door undetected ; but such a commonplace proceeding did not suit my adventurous disposition .