midnight
To Bob Roberts ' great delight , he found that Tom Long was one of the party , for , being declared well enough by the doctor , he had put in a sort of claim , as having been of the last force , to a right to belong to this . This was conceded to him by Major Sandars , and he was burning to distinguish himself , if he could obtain a chance . Very formidable he seemed , with his sword ground to the keenest possible edge , and a revolver in his belt ; though in appearance Bob Roberts was scarcely less offensive in the way of weapons , as he took pains to show his friend . It must have been close upon midnight , when the man in the chains , who had continued to take soundings , announced by degrees the shallowing of the river . For quite twenty miles it had kept to its muddy bottom and uniform depth , but during the past half-hour the mud had given place to clean-washed gravel , the depth grew less , and at last the anchor was let go , for it was not considered safe to proceed farther . But it was not until there was less than a foot of water beneath the vessel that the order was given ; while even then there was so much way upon the steamer that she touched upon the gravel lightly before she gradually settled back and swung to her cable . Quickly and silently four boats were lowered , each containing twenty men , and at the word of command the party , under the joint command of Lieutenant Johnson and Captain Smithers , pushed off , with the good wishes of all left on board .