about midnight
He reported that a party of pirates in longboats had come down river during the evening to reconnoitre , but had beat a retreat as soon as they had seen the _ Henry 's _ guns . It was decided about half the crew of the _ Queen _ should be added to the force of men on the two sloops , while the big vessel herself was forced to be content with standing guard off the entrance . This was a bitter blow not only to Mr. Curtis , but to Job and the boys , who had looked forward to the battle with zest . Bob and Jeremy had been ordered to bed about midnight , but they rose before light , in their excitement , and sunrise found them in the bows with Job , watching the long point of sand behind which they knew the pirates lay . Preparations had been made aboard the _ Henry _ and _ Sea Nymph _ for an immediate advance up the river . Hardly had the first slant beams of sunlight struck upon Rhett 's deck before the crew were lustily pulling at the main halyards and winding in the anchor chain . But even before the two Carolina sloops were under way there was an excited chorus of `` Here he comes ! ''