nine o'clock
The excursionists of the squadron slept soundly after their trip to Elsinore , and Clyde Blacklock , true to the promise he had made to himself , kept awake to watch his chances to escape . Not a sound was to be heard in the ship , and the intense silence was even more trying to the prisoner in the brig than the noise and bustle of the whole crew when awake . Ryder , the fourth lieutenant , and two seamen had the anchor watch on deck . Each officer served two hours , and was required at the stroke of the bell , every half hour , to walk through the steerage , where no light was permitted after nine o'clock . Clyde took the saw from its hiding-place under the stairs , and commenced work on one of the slats . The instrument was very sharp , but the noise it made promised to betray him , and he was obliged to use it with extreme caution . Bracing the slat with one shoulder , he worked the saw very slowly , so that the wood should not vibrate .