About nine o'clock
He noted that this was in itself quite an encampment , but realized that it was only one portion of the whole . He wished to get the other divisions located , and desired also to learn how many soldiers there were in the entire British army . He asked questions , carefully , in such a manner as not to create suspicion , and gradually became possessed of considerable information that he felt must be reliable , since there could be no occasion for those who gave him the information to deceive him , they believing him to be loyal to the king and a soldier the same as they were . About nine o'clock Company H. was ordered to proceed to the beach for the purpose of allowing the soldiers to bathe , and they set out at once , Dick accompanying them , of course . On the way they passed another division of the British army , and Dick was informed by a companion that it was the main body . When they neared the beach , Dick caught sight of several old hulks of vessels at anchor near the shore , and he inquired what they were . `` Old hulks of dismantled ships , '' was the reply .