eight o'clock
` I 'm going home ' , he said shortly . `` Now I hardly knew whether he intended to say he was going to the United States , or to the little cabin and tent on Front Street , but rather than run the risk of exploding another bomb of wrath like the last one by asking a question , I kept quiet and made preparations to go back to our tent . `` On the beach we washed our hands and smoothed our clothing as best we could ; but the frown which had lodged on Pa 's forehead remained . `` That evening when Leroy had returned from his work and we had eaten our eight o'clock supper with the sun still shining very brightly upon the tent , the boy lighted his pipe and asked for the story of the day 's doings . `` I then gave it from the beginning . When I reached Pa 's discovery of the ice in the prospect hole on the tundra , Leroy laughed heartily . Then seeing the aggrieved look on his father 's face , and , I suppose , a bothered one on my own , he became more serious , and drawing closer , took my hand in both of his . ''