One o'clock
Between the pirates and the shore were we , precluding escape in that direction . On the other hand , the water was rising rapidly over the shoals , and it was only a question of a few hours when it would be over their heads . It was beautifully calm , and in the brilliant white moonlight we watched them through our night glasses and told Charley of the voyage of the _ Coal Tar Maggie _ . One o'clock came , and two o'clock , and the pirates were clustering on the highest shoal , waist-deep in water . `` Now this illustrates the value of imagination , '' Charley was saying . `` Taft has been trying for years to get them , but he went at it with bull strength and failed . Now we used our heads ... '' Just then I heard a scarcely audible gurgle of water , and holding up my hand for silence , I turned and pointed to a ripple slowly widening out in a growing circle .