midnight
The same sail-boat that had taken the Captain up to the town was waiting for Barnaby and the young lady as they came down to the landing-place . There the Captain of the brigantine having wished them godspeed , and having shaken Barnaby very heartily by the hand , he helped to push off the boat , which with the slant of the wind presently sailed swiftly away , dropping the shore and those strange beings , and the brigantine in which they sailed , alike behind them into the night . They could hear through the darkness the creaking of the sails being hoisted aboard of the pirate vessel ; nor did Barnaby True ever set eyes upon it or the crew again , nor , so far as the writer is informed , did anybody else . It was nigh midnight when they made Mr. Hartright 's wharf at the foot of Beaver Street . There Barnaby and the boatmen assisted the young lady ashore , and our hero and she walked up through the now silent and deserted street to Mr. Hartright 's house . You may conceive of the wonder and amazement of our hero 's dear step-father when aroused by Barnaby 's continued knocking at the street door , and clad in a dressing-gown and carrying a lighted candle in his hand , he unlocked and unbarred the door , and so saw who it was had aroused him at such an hour of the night , and beheld the young and beautiful lady whom Barnaby had brought home with him . The first thought of the good man was that the _ Belle Helen _ had come into port ; nor did Barnaby undeceive him as he led the way into the house , but waited until they were all safe and sound together before he should unfold his strange and wonderful story .