about nine o'clock
Captain Amber had gathered together those of his men who were old soldiers , and , having addressed them in a stirring speech , which made my blood beat more warmly , he set them to various tasks in preparation for what now appeared to be inevitable -- our leaving the ship . The brave fellows behaved as obediently as if they had been on parade , as courageously as if they had been going into action . They were picked men of fine mettle , and they were yet to be tested by severer tests , and to stand the test well . At about nine o'clock or a little later the boat returned . We could see it , of course , a long way off , as it made its course towards us , but none of those on board made any sign to us , which we took , and rightly , too , to be a sign of no great cheer . Then our hopes , which had begun to run a little higher , ebbed away again , and we waited in silence for the boat to come alongside and for Hatchett to climb on board and to make his report to Captain Marmaduke . This he did in private , Captain Marmaduke taking him a little apart , while we all looked on and hungered for the news .