nine o'clock
Nobody seemed to care . '' `` We all took it for granted that the steamers were to return by the way they came , '' said Colonel Shepard . `` I was talking with your father about the matter one day , more than a week ago ; and he had the same view of the subject I had . '' `` We will sail at nine o'clock to-morrow morning , if you please . '' `` Certainly if that is the pleasure of the commander of the fleet , '' answered Colonel Shepard . I had kept my own counsel so far , and I thought I had better continue to do so for a while longer . Washburn and I had settled the question , even before we left Detroit , and had procured all the information necessary to carry out our plan , for the mate first suggested it .