three o'clock in
the morning
Altogether , he made the service appear much more favourable than they supposed , although the crimp , who had stood by , did all he could to persuade the men to the contrary . We remained in this house for more than a week , and then declared that we had no more money , and must find a ship . The crimp said that he had a berth for one of us as second mate of a brig , and I agreed to take it , leaving Bob Cross to get a berth for himself as soon as he could . As I raid up , there was no demand upon the owners of the vessel , and it was arranged that I should be down at a certain wharf at three o'clock in the morning , when I should find a boat waiting for me . I waited up with Bob Cross until the clock had struck two , and then the crimp let me out . He did not offer to go down with me , as he had no money to receive ; and , as it was pitch-dark , there was little chance of my being picked up by a press-gang at that hour . I wished Cross good-bye , and set off for Plymouth Dock with my bundle on my stick .