half past five
Each boy was assigned to a particular position in the boats , and knew on what thwart he was to sit , and which oar he was to pull . Wilton and Monroe , as the master spirits of the enterprise were to run out first on the swinging boom , and slide down the painters , each into the boat he was to command . The others were to follow in the same way , descending from the boom , for it was not considered prudent to run the boats up to the gangway , where some enthusiastic officer might easily interfere with the plan , which was to depend for its success upon the celerity of its execution . When four bells struck , the professors went down to their evening meal , as usual , and the boatswain piped the port watch to supper , the starboard watch having taken theirs at three bells , or half past five . Wilton gave a low whistle , when Shuffles , officer of the deck , was abaft the mizzenmast , with his back to the runaways who had gathered in the waist , and were waiting for the signal . `` Be lively , fellows , '' said the leader of the enterprise , as he sprang over the rail , and ran out on the boom , followed by Monroe . The others , in the order in which they had been instructed , did the same .