midnight
There was no one to be seen , but that was no proof that the island was deserted . There was some one there whom the three boys did not expect to see or hear of very soon , and that was Godfrey Evans . He was waiting for Dan to come with the canoe and the tobacco and other articles he had been instructed to purchase at the store . He had watched for him until long after midnight , then retreated to his bed of leaves under the lean-to for a short nap , and at the first peep of day he was again at his post behind the sycamore . To his great relief he saw the boat coming at last , but his joy was of short duration , for a second look showed him that Dan was not in it . The canoe came nearer to the island with every stroke of the oars , and presently one of Don 's hounds started to his feet , snuffed the air eagerly for a moment and uttered a deep-toned bay . Godfrey ducked his head on the instant and crawled swiftly away from the sycamore on his hands and knees .