three o'clock
`` The nearer the time of sailing , the better , Roger ; for if I am watched , and there is any trouble with the man who follows me , the sooner we are on board before any alarm is raised , the better . But I should hardly think a boat would start , in the evening . '' `` I do n't know , Master Oswald . I was down at the port , yesterday , and the tide was high at three o'clock ; and methinks that a boat would put out an hour or two before low tide , so as to take the water with it as far as New Berwick , and there catch the flood flowing into the Firth . In that case , the boat would put out at six , or maybe seven o'clock . '' `` I would that it had been two hours later , Roger . After dark , it were easy enough to silence a man without attracting much attention ; but in broad daylight , it would not be so easily done . ''