ten in the evening
Pencroft and Neb , during this time , had gone to fetch the boat , moored a few hundred feet higher up , on the bank of the Mercy , and by the time they returned , Ayrton was ready to start . A coat was thrown over his shoulders , and the settlers all came round him to press his hand . Ayrton then shoved off with Pencroft in the boat . It was half-past ten in the evening when the two adventurers disappeared in the darkness . Their companions returned to wait at the Chimneys . The channel was easily traversed , and the boat touched the opposite shore of the islet . This was not done without precaution , for fear lest the pirates might be roaming about there .