nine o'clock
`` Come , Washington , serve dinner , '' ordered Mr. Henderson , and the colored man soon had a good meal prepared . Few repasts have been eaten under such strange circumstances . Desiring to be back at his secluded dock by nightfall , Captain Henderson soon started the _ Porpoise _ up again . Without any accidents the return trip was made and by nine o'clock the _ Porpoise _ rode safely at the dock where she had been launched . The night was spent in the cabin on shore . Early the next morning Mr. Henderson paid a visit to the ship , to make a thorough examination by daylight , and see if the craft had suffered any damage . `` I think you and Mark will have to make a trip to town , '' he said to Jack at the breakfast table .