ten o'clock
It was not exactly a laughing matter to me , although I had to congratulate myself upon a very lucky escape ; and so did my messmates think , when I narrated my adventures . The pelican was the worst part of the business . O'Brien lent me a dark silk handkerchief , which I tied round my waist , and let drop behind , so that my misfortunes might not attract any notice , and then we quitted the menagerie ; but I was so stiff that I could scarcely walk . We then went to what they called the Ranelagh Gardens , to see the fireworks , which were to be let off at ten o'clock . It was exactly ten when we paid for our admission , and we waited very patiently for a quarter of an hour , but there were no signs of the fireworks being displayed . The fact was , that the man to whom the gardens belonged waited until more company should arrive , although the place was already very full of people . Now the first lieutenant had ordered the boat to wait for us until twelve o'clock , and then return on board ; and , as we were seven miles from Portsmouth , we had not much time to spare .