Nine
o'clock
Gulls , ospreys , and other swift-winged seabirds sailed about these pretty outcroppings of the mighty deep , and sometimes the creatures came after the Sky-Bird with shrill cries of challenge , only to be quickly left behind . Once more the shades of night fell , and once more John took the destinies of the airplane in hand . For a time Bob and Paul worked on reports , then played with Grandpa , who in such tedious spells of flying as this was a never-ending source of entertainment to all . Nine o'clock found them in their hammocks , hoping that when they opened their eyes again it would be to see the welcome shores of their destination . Nor in this hope were they to be disappointed . It seemed they had no sooner fallen asleep than they were aroused by a hand shaking them and the voice of John saying : `` Come on , you sleepy-heads ! Rout out here and have a look at what 's ahead ! ''