about eleven o'clock
He saw a rude wharf along the canal and several boats , all with the sails furled , except two . These two might be returning to the fresh water lakes , and it was possible that he could secure passage . The people of the bergantins were always humble peons and they cared little for the intrigues of the capital . It was now about eleven o'clock and the night had lightened somewhat , a fair moon showing . Ned could see distinctly the boats or bergantins as the Mexicans called them . They were large , flat of bottom , shallow of draft , and were propelled with both sail and oar . He was repulsed at the first , where a surly Mexican of middle age told him with a curse that he wanted no help , but at the next which had as a crew a man , a woman , evidently his wife , and two half-grown boys , he was more fortunate .