nine o'clock
While I was thus fretting at the delay , I came to a yard where boats were kept for sale . Most of them were for the use of steamers , and were far beyond my means ; but I found a second-hand skiff , which I purchased for ten dollars , including in the price a pair of good oars . It would be a handy thing to have on the raft , and if I had had it when I first saw poor Emily Goodridge in the water , I could have saved her without any difficulty . In this light boat I embarked at nine o'clock . The raft was ten or twelve miles below Cairo ; but the swift current would speed me on my way with little labor at the oars . I pulled steadily , and with just power enough to give me steerage-way ; and when I reached the raft , I found I had made the passage in little more than two hours . `` Hookie ! ''