nine o'clock
And thereupon they parted without further speaking . It was a warm August evening when he finally pushed out from shore and laid his course down-stream . He had not ventured upon the experiment of a sail , but the tide was beginning to run out , and that , with the current , should carry him to his destination without the dipping of an oar . But he reflected that the moon would rise at nine o'clock , and as it was barely past the full the light might betray him to watching eyes . He could take no risks , and so must reach the city under cover of darkness . Accordingly , he bent to his paddle , taking it easy at first , and then lengthening out the stroke as he gained confidence in this hitherto untried art . An hour wore on , and Constans was approaching the suburbs of the ancient municipality .