Two o'clock
`` If I was only twenty years younger -- '' `` It 's old men 's work , '' said a voice . The skipper , straining his eyes through the gloom in the direction of his craft , said nothing . He began to think that she had escaped after all . Two o'clock struck and the crowd began to disperse . Some of the bolder inhabitants who were fidgety about draughts closed their windows , and children who had been routed out of their beds to take a nocturnal walk inland were led slowly back , By three o'clock the danger was felt to be over , and day broke and revealed the forlorn _ Susan Jane _ still riding at anchor . `` I 'm going aboard , '' said the skipper suddenly ; `` who 's coming with me ? '' Jem and the mate and the town-policeman volunteered , and , borrowing the boat which had served them before , pulled swiftly out to their vessel and , taking the hatches off with unusual gentleness , commenced their search .