about midnight
The provisions , water , and other stores had been shipped during the day ; but the boat , to replace the one destroyed , would not be ready until the next morning . My uncle had been trotting round , giving the little craft a thorough inspection , during the time I had been engaged with my junior , and expressed himself as being much pleased with her handsome model . When we were ready to return to the shore he proposed that we should take little Smellie with us ; and we accordingly all three trundled over the side into the shore-boat , which we had detained -- leaving Hardy to superintend the finishing touches -- and rowed down the harbour again in the light of a beautiful , clear full moon . Sir Peregrine was in high spirits that evening at dinner ; he said it reminded him of his young days to be down there once more , and he completely unbent from his usual stateliness , so that we spent a most delightful evening , turning in about midnight . I awoke early next morning , and , having roused out my second in command , we walked down to the dockyard to hurry the people up with the new boat , which they were just finishing off . We returned to the hotel to breakfast at eight o'clock ; and by ten a.m. , having completed all my business on shore , we once more chartered a wherry , and went on board , my uncle accompanying us . On reaching the `` Vigilant '' I found that the new boat had been delivered and was hoisted in , the dockyard gang was clear of the ship , and everything was ready for an immediate start .