seven o'clock
Joe went into every portion of the boat in which passengers are allowed ; but without seeing either Ned 's captor or his companion . Had he been on deck when the steamer arrived at Newport , he would have seen the two men land there , after searching vainly for the boy they had stolen , much as if they feared they might be called to an account for what they had done . Of this , of course , Joe knew nothing ; and when he failed to see either of the men , he naturally feared they were waiting on shore in the hope of catching Ned as he landed . It was but seven o'clock , and as a number of the passengers were yet on board , the stewards had paid no attention to the stateroom the boys occupied ; otherwise an explanation might have been made which would have prevented both the young passengers ' much trouble . `` It 's morning , Ned , an ' I s ` pose we 're in Providence , '' said Joe , as he came back to the stateroom where the child was waiting , in fear and trembling , the result of his trip on deck . `` I ca n't see anything of the men , an ' perhaps if we go on shore now they wo n't catch us . We 've got to ` take these valises , for the man told me to watch 'em , an ' that means that I 've got to keep right side of 'em . ''