two o'clock in the morning
Such an application must be supported by a witness , and a disinterested one . '' So all the parties retired crest-fallen except Mr. Middleton ; as for him , he was imitating a small but ingenious specimen of nature -- the cuttle-fish . This little creature , when pursued by its enemies , discharges an inky fluid which obscures the water all around , and then it starts off and escapes . One dark night , at two o'clock in the morning , there came to the door of the Dun Cow an invalid carriage , or rather omnibus , with a spring-bed and every convenience . The wheels were covered thick with India-rubber ; relays had been provided , and Monckton and his party rolled along day and night to Liverpool . The detectives followed , six hours later , and traced them to Liverpool very cleverly , and , with the assistance of the police , raked the town for them , and got all the great steamers watched , especially those that were bound westward , ho ! But their bird was at sea , in a Liverpool merchant 's own steamboat , hired for a two months ' trip .