about nine o'clock
No doubt he saw the man again after the brig was sighted , and told him that they should come on board soon after it got dark , and told him to have the boat at the stairs . You see , in that case they might not have carried Mr. Thorndyke above fifty yards . They would probably get him on board as one of their party who had been drunk . The barge , no doubt , got under way about nine o'clock , which is the hour when the tide was high last night , and during the night the Indians could easily drop your friend overboard -- and may even have done so before they got under way , which would have been the easiest thing to do . There would have been no one at the helm , and they could have chosen a moment when the crew , probably only three , were below . I am afraid that this is not a cheering lookout , but I have little doubt that it is the correct one . `` I have told my men to find out what barge was lying at the spot the sailor pointed out , and if we discover her name , which we are likely to be able to do , there will be no difficulty in finding out to whom she belongs and where she was bound for .