night, about nine o'clock
Every man professed innocence , but Larkin did not believe a word of their stout denials . The manner in which he took the joke was evidence of the irritability caused by the days of inaction . Every member of the squadron was looking for something over which they could quarrel . Then one night , about nine o'clock , orders came down for a dawn patrol of two flights of five ships each . Cowan summoned McGee and Larkin to his headquarters and gave them leadership of the flights . McGee protested , pointing out that he did not want to gain the honor at Yancey 's expense , and particularly since he considered Yancey worthy of the command . But Cowan was sure of the wisdom of the move , and made his own selection of the men who were to go on this first patrol .