midnight
I shall come on board about a quarter of an hour before ; you may go , sir . '' Vanslyperken quailed under the keen eye and stern look of Ramsay , and obeyed the uncourteous order in silence ; still he thought of revenge as he walked back to the boat and re-embarked in the cutter . `` What 's this , Short ? '' observed Coble : `` here is a new freak ; we start at midnight , I hear . '' `` Yes , '' replied Short . `` Something quite new , any how : -- do n't understand it , do you ? '' `` No , '' replied Dick .