six o'clock in the afternoon
The rising was to take place in Pelham 's watch , the officers of which were members of the League . All the details had been carefully arranged , and trusty `` links '' appointed to perform the heavy work . As soon as the `` old folks '' had been locked up in the cabin , and the new captain had taken the command , the ship was to be headed for the shore . The great event was to come off at six o'clock in the afternoon of the twenty-third or twenty-fifth day . The ship would be near the coast for at least a part of two days . If she was within six hours ' sail of the land on the twenty-third day out , when Pelham would have the second part of the first dog watch , the rising was to take place then ; if not , it was to be deferred till the twenty-fifth day , when the watches were again favorable . Shuffles communicated with his discontented first officer as often as he could , and unfolded his plans without reserve .