About one o'clock
While he was watching me , I could not convey Kate to her uncle , and I was puzzled to know what I should do . When the steamer arrived at New York , Tom would keep both eyes fixed upon me , and I should have no chance to assist my fair companion . I walked about the boat , and thought the matter over ; but the more I considered it , the more unsatisfactory it seemed . About one o'clock the steamer made a landing at Poughkeepsie . I went down to the main deck , from which the gangway planks led to the wharf . I found Tom Thornton there , apparently for the purpose of assuring himself that I did not take `` French leave '' of him , which was just the thing I intended to do , if it could be done without his notice . I went forward , but found that the stern of the boat was swung in , so that the forward gangway was twenty feet from the pier .