midnight
`` Who wants me ? '' `` I do , '' answered Bob . '' _ Mr Ralli says you 're to shift over at once _ . '' This was simply a form of words which had been agreed on when Dickinson paid his midnight visit to the cottage , and meant that the moment for action had arrived , and that a muster was to be made at the landing - place . The sudden summons took Dickinson rather by surprise , though he had been schooling himself to expect it at any moment ; he instantly recovered himself , however , and rising to his feet with a well-assumed air of reluctance asked : `` Does he mean that we are to go now -- to-night ? '' `` He said ` _ at once _ , ' '' answered Bob . `` Oh !