eight o’clock in the evening
By the end of that time they had disposed of their goods and had taken in a large number of the native productions in exchange , and the ship 's course was laid north again for Calcutta , where they filled up with Indian produce and then sailed for home . Five months later they arrived in the Thames , the only bad weather they had encountered being a storm as they entered the Channel . They anchored at Gravesend , and the captain told Stephen to land and take a post-chaise up to London , and report to Mr. Hewson that the _ Tiger _ would come up on the tide next morning . It was eight o'clock in the evening when Stephen arrived at his employer 's . Mr. Hewson received him with great kindness . `` I am always very glad when I hear that one of my ships is safe in port , '' he said ; `` for however great my confidence , there are times when human skill and strength are of no avail . I did not expect that the _ Tiger _ would be back for another month or so , and am heartily glad to hear that she has returned .