two o'clock
At Mr. Winters ' request they were granted permission to remain on shore until a raft of men was ready to be sent away . The boys were allowed to do pretty much as they pleased while they remained , for , as they were to leave so soon , Mr. Winters could not find it in his heart to raise any objections to the plans they proposed for their amusement . Besides , he knew that Archie was in good hands , for Frank was a boy of excellent habits , and possessed sufficient moral courage to say _ no _ , when tempted to do wrong ; and , as he had great influence over his cousin , Mr. Winters knew their conduct would be such as he could approve . At length , one morning , when they went on board the receiving-ship to report as usual , they were ordered to present themselves at the depot at two o'clock that afternoon , with their bags and hammocks , in readiness to take the train for the West . The boys were a good deal disappointed when they heard this , for the idea of serving out their year on the Mississippi River was not an agreeable one . They had hoped to be ordered to the coast . But , as Archie remarked , it was `` too late to back out , '' and they were obliged to submit .