three o'clock
He even turned his back on the skipper when George started to munch biscuit and cheese . `` What time is it ? '' asked George , after a while , upon seeing the fat boy look at his little nickel watch , for the tenth time at least . `` Just three o'clock ! '' groaned Nick , sadly replacing his timepiece and looking longingly toward the west , where he knew solid ground lay , if only they could ever set feet upon it once more . `` And we started out on the sea by eight , '' remarked George . `` Say , that 's something worth while ; and when we get to talking it over we 'll have reason to be proud of the way these bully little boats have served us .