nine o'clock
By this time it was getting pretty late in the day ; nevertheless , we burnt with such impatience to be near our dear Moll that we set forth for Thadviir , which lies upon the seacoast about seven English leagues east of Alger . But a cool , refreshing air from the sea and the great joy in our hearts made this journey seem to us the most delightful of our lives . And indeed , after passing through the suburbs richly planted with gardens , and crossing the river , on which are many mills , and so coming into the plain of Mettegia , there is such an abundance of sweet odours and lovely fertile views to enchant the senses , that a dull man would be inspirited to a happy , cheerful mood . 'T was close upon nine o'clock when we reached the little town , and not a soul to be seen anywhere nor a light in any window , but that troubled us not at all -LRB- having provided ourselves with a good store of victuals before quitting Alger -RRB- , for here 't is as sweet to lie of nights in the open air as in the finest palace elsewhere . Late as it was , however , we could not dispose ourselves to sleep before we had gone all round the town to satisfy our curiosity . At the further extremity we spied a building looking very majestic in the moonlight , with a large garden about it enclosed with high walls , and deciding that this must be the residence of Ali Oukadi , who , we had learnt , was the most important merchant of these parts , we lay us down against the wall , and fell asleep , thinking of our dear Moll , who perchance , all unconscious , was lying within . Rising at daybreak , for Dawson was mightily uneasy unless we might be breaking the law by sleeping out-of-doors -LRB- but there is no cruel law of this sort in Barbary -RRB- , we washed ourselves very properly at a neighbouring stream , made a meal of dry bread and dates , then , laying our bundles in a secret place whence we might conveniently fetch them , if Ali Oukadi insisted on entertaining us a day or two , we went into the town , and finding , upon enquiry , that this was indeed his palace , as we had surmised , bethought us what to say and how to behave the most civil possible , and so presented ourselves at his gate , stating our business .