midnight
For the job he meditated the man was not only worse than useless , but might even spy on him and carry warning . His plan was to get the sunk crop of brandy round to St. Ives , deliver it to Squire Stephens , and , at the same time , under cover of the business , make sure of Dan ` l 's being at Stack 's Folly , and treat with him , under threats , to give up claim upon his sweetheart . To this end , one night while Tummels was sleeping , he unmoored the _ Fly _ tender -- a twenty-foot open boat carrying two sprit-sails , owned by him and Dan ' l in common , and used for all manner of odd jobs -- worked her down to Old Lizard Head single-handed , and crept up to the sunk crop of brandy . Back-breaking work it was to heave the kegs on board ; but in an hour before midnight he had stowed the lot and was steering for St. Ives with a stiffish breeze upon his port quarter . The weather could n't have served him better . By daylight the _ Fly _ was rounding in for St. Ives Quay , having sunk her crop again off the mouth of a handy cave on the town side of Treryn Dinas ; and Phoby Geen stepped ashore and ordered breakfast at the George and Dragon before stepping up to talk with Squire Stephens . In the meantime , Tummels , waking up at four in the morning , as his custom was , and taking a look out of window , missed the _ Fly _ from her moorings , which caused him to scratch his head and think hard for ten minutes .