one o'clock in the morning
`` Yes , sir , '' the three boys responded , saluting , and the captain departed , motioning Lieutenant Mackinson to accompany him . By this time Joe was stiff and sore in every joint . Jerry and Slim insisted that he retire immediately , and helped him off with his clothing . Nor was there any objection from Jerry , whose turn in the wireless room was to begin then and last until one o'clock in the morning , when Slim suggested that he would stay on with him , `` just to talk things over . '' `` All right , '' said Jerry , `` and then I 'll stay on during your shift , until Joe relieves us in the morning . We can get a good sleep to-morrow , anyway . '' And so the long night began .