night about twelve o'clock
He was too much of a coward to attack him openly , and feared to attempt any secret mischief , as he knew that he would be immediately suspected as the author of it ; for his hatred to Goldie had , by this time , been remarked throughout the ship , where , it was equally obvious , Goldie had no other enemy . But , while he is meditating mischief , we must go on with our story . When the Briton arrived in Madras Roads , several vessels were lying at anchor there ; and one of them , a small merchantman , had her foretopsail loose , and `` blue-peter '' flying . This was the Columbine , a Liverpool ship , which was expected to sail that night about twelve o'clock . As Cummin stood on the forecastle in the evening , after the hammocks were piped down , looking gloomily at that vessel , his countenance suddenly brightened up . He rubbed his hands together , and laughed aloud ; then checking himself , and looking cautiously round , to see whether any one was near him , he dived below . At midnight , the Columbine `` got under way , '' and stood to sea .