ten o'clock
He swam quartering upstream , but still was swept downward rather faster than he had expected . However , he reached the shore finally , and drifted along till he found a low place and drew himself out . He put his hand on his jacket pocket , found his piece of bark safe , and then struck through the woods , following the shore , with streaming garments . Shortly before ten o'clock he came out into an open place opposite the village , and saw the ferryboat lying in the shadow of the trees and the high bank . Everything was quiet under the blinking stars . He crept down the bank , watching with all his eyes , slipped into the water , swam three or four strokes and climbed into the skiff that did `` yawl '' duty at the boat 's stern . He laid himself down under the thwarts and waited , panting .