midnight
The opportunity of ascertaining the fact was not to be neglected , and it was no sooner so dark as to veil his movements than the governor went on board the Martha , which was a vessel of more beam than the Anne , and beat her up to the rocks , in order to make a trial of its capacity . It was just possible to take the sloop through in several places ; but , in one spot , the rocks came too near together to admit of her being hauled between them . The circumstances would not allow of delay , and to work everybody went , with such implements as offered , to pick away the rock and to open a passage . By midnight , this was done ; and the Martha was carried through into the bay beyond . Here she stood off a short distance and anchored . The governor went back to his own craft and moved her about a mile , being apprehensive of a boat attack in the darkness , should he remain where he was . This precaution was timely , for , in the morning , after day had dawned , no less than seven boats were seen pulling down to the pirates , which had , no doubt , been looking for the schooner and the sloop in vain .