two in the morning
A boat was lowered in silence , and four of the crew being placed under the command of Ned Thomson , pulled ashore . The boat flew quickly , but the oars seemed only to kiss the water , and no sound audible at the distance of five yards proceeded from their stroke . `` Now , pull back quietly , mates , '' said Ned , `` and I 'll be aboard wi ' some o ' wur awn folks in a twinkling . '' It was between one and two in the morning , and there was no outward sign amongst the fishermen of Embleton that they were on the alert for the arrival of a smuggler . The party who gave information to the cutter having missed Harry for a few days , justly imagined that he had obtained notice of what they had done ; and also believed that he had ordered the cargo to be delivered on some other part of the coast , and they therefore were off their guard . Ned , therefore , proceeded to the village ; and , at the houses of certain friends , merely gave three distinct and peculiar taps with his fingers upon their shutterless windows , from none of which , if I may use the expression , proceeded even the _ shadow _ of light ; but no sooner was the last tap given upon each , than it was responded to by a low cough from within . No words passed ; and at one window only was Ned detained for a space exceeding ten seconds , and that was at the house of his master , Harry Teasdale .