six o'clock
The night will be dark , and the Spaniards , believing that we have no boats , will not keep a very strict watch . The worst part of the business is the swim across the river , the water will be bitterly cold ; but as you and I have often swum Scotch burns when they were swollen by the melting snow I think that we may well manage to get across this sluggish stream . '' `` At what time will we be starting , sir ? '' `` Be here at the edge of the river at six o'clock , sergeant . I can get away at that time without exciting comment , and we will say nothing about it unless we succeed . '' Thinking it over , however , it occurred to Malcolm that by this means a day would be lost -- and he knew how anxious the king was to press forward . He therefore abandoned his idea of keeping his discovery secret , and going to his colonel reported that he had found a boat , and could bring it across from the other side by seven o'clock .