an hour after midnight
`` They 're gone , and we 're free again , '' he cried . `` Hurrah ! '' We shook hands warmly on our escape , and having done so looked about us . A ship 's bell out in the stream chimed half an hour after midnight , and a precious dark night it was . A number of vessels were to be seen , and from the noise that came from them it was evident they were busy coaling . `` What 's to be done now ? '' asked Beckenham .