about ten o'clock
at night
Yet there was no help for it . As Frere said , it was `` neck or nothing with them '' . They must get away at all hazards . That evening they camped at the mouth of the Gates , Dawes being afraid to risk a passage until the slack of the tide , and about ten o'clock at night adventured to cross the Bar . The night was lovely , and the sea calm . It seemed as though Providence had taken pity on them ; for , notwithstanding the insecurity of the craft and the violence of the breakers , the dreaded passage was made with safety . Once , indeed , when they had just entered the surf , a mighty wave , curling high above them , seemed about to overwhelm the frail structure of skins and wickerwork ; but Rufus Dawes , keeping the nose of the boat to the sea , and Frere baling with his hat , they succeeded in reaching deep water .