ten o’clock
What astonished him was , that so simple an idea had not occurred to him before . As to Neb , he followed his master wherever his master wished to go . `` This evening , then , '' said Pencroft , `` we will all meet out there . '' `` This evening , at ten o'clock , '' replied Captain Harding ; `` and Heaven grant that the storm does not abate before our departure . '' Pencroft took leave of the two friends , and returned to his lodging , where young Herbert Brown had remained . The courageous boy knew of the sailor 's plan , and it was not without anxiety that he awaited the result of the proposal being made to the engineer . Thus five determined persons were about to abandon themselves to the mercy of the tempestuous elements !