eight o’clock
Lady Helena was informed of the determination to send a message to Melbourne , and that they had drawn lots who should go , and Mulrady had been chosen . Lady Helena said a few kind words to the brave sailor , which went straight to his heart . Fate could hardly have chosen a better man , for he was not only brave and intelligent , but robust and superior to all fatigue . Mulrady 's departure was fixed for eight o'clock , immediately after the short twilight . Wilson undertook to get the horse ready . He had a project in his head of changing the horse 's left shoe , for one off the horses that had died in the night . This would prevent the convicts from tracking Mulrady , or following him , as they were not mounted .