nine
o'clock sharp
`` I see , '' said Bob ; and the floating bridge having by this time reached its terminus at the Portsmouth side of the water , they all stepped ashore and made their way home , Mrs Strong declaring that she had had `` enough of going about , for one day at least ! '' In spite of her exertions , however , she was none the worse for them after dinner ; being able , indeed , to accompany the others down to the beach , Rover now forming one of the party , and magnanimously forgiving his young master for leaving him behind all day in the house while he went gallivanting about sight-seeing , albeit Dick 's company and Sarah 's kindness in the way of tit-bits somewhat made amends to the poor dog for the neglect of the truant Bob . `` By the way , '' said the Captain to the latter , on taking his leave in the evening after escorting them back to `` the Moorings , '' `` you must n't forget the trial of the _ Archimedes _ to-morrow , my boy . Captain Sponson told me the other day at the Club that she 'd go out of harbour at nine o'clock sharp in the morning ! '' `` Oh , I 'll remember , '' replied Bob . `` Where will she start from , Captain ? '' `` Why , from Coaling Point , at the further end of the Dockyard ; so we 'll have to be under weigh half-an-hour earlier , '' cried the old sailor from the doorstep .