midnight
`` You may depend on me for delivering it safely ; for I should otherwise never be able to look my cousin in the face , '' he answered . After an early dinner the admiral dismissed them . Higson wished to get several things in Kingston before they returned on board ; he had also to deliver over the brig to the agent , who had to find a fresh crew in lieu of the men-of-war 's men , and some of the others who volunteered for the frigate . It was thus past midnight when they got on board . Higson received the hearty congratulation of his old messmates as well as those of the midshipmen whose berth he was leaving . `` Pardon me , Mr Higson , I 'm right glad that you 've got this step , '' exclaimed Dick Needham , `` you deserve it , that you do ; though it 's not always those who are most deserving that gets their due . '' By daybreak next morning the _ Plantagenet _ and _ Tudor _ sailed with the land breeze for the southward .