nine o'clock in the evening
With difficulty she repressed the outburst of her grief , and James Playfair , leaning towards her , said gently : `` Jenny , in two hours your father will be in safety near you , or I shall have perished in endeavouring to save him ! '' Then he left the cabin , saying to himself , `` And now he must be carried off at any price , since I must pay for his liberty with my own life and those of my crew . '' The hour for action had arrived , the loading of the cotton cargo had been finished since morning ; in two hours the ship would be ready to start . James Playfair had left the North Commercial Wharf and gone into the roadstead , so that he was ready to make use of the tide , which would be high at nine o'clock in the evening . It was seven o'clock when James left the young girl , and began to make preparations for departure . Until the present time the secret had been strictly kept between himself , Crockston , and Jenny ; but now he thought it wise to inform Mr. Mathew of the situation of affairs , and he did so immediately . `` Very well , sir , '' replied Mr. Mathew , without making the least remark , `` and nine o'clock is the time ? ''