eleven o'clock
He falters ; it would seem as if the very doors of the church would open and receive him . Throwing down the bundle , he kneels upon the door-stone , and breathes a prayer to heaven , to bless those who will enter therein when he shall be gone . Pressing his lips to the cold stone where _ they _ have trod , he rises , when lo ! standing by his side , with the package of clothes in his mouth , is the old house dog , Nep ; and as the watch in the tower cries , `` past eleven o'clock , and all is well , '' he looks wistfully into his master 's face , as if he would ask , is all well ? What is to be done ? in less than half an hour the ship will be towed out into the stream ; there is no time to be lost , but the dog will not think of leaving his master , for his experience of years tells him it is a new thing for the boy to be wandering from home at this unseasonable hour . In vain did Harry attempt to drive the faithful creature from him , for never having been an unwelcome companion before , the dog did not understand his master 's threatening gestures ; yet he could understand that something was amiss , and for that reason kept close upon his master 's heels , to shield him from all danger .