midnight
Despite their desperate hurry they had made no mistakes , and for this the credit lay largely with Big George . Through it all Clyde had lent them enthusiastic if feeble assistance ; and now that the strain was off , he gave fitting expression to his delight by getting drunk . Being temperamental to a degree , he craved company ; and , knowing full well the opposition he would encounter from his friends , he annexed a bibulous following of loafers whose time hung heavy and who were at all times eager to applaud a loose tongue so long as it was accompanied by a loose purse . Toward midnight `` Fingerless '' Fraser , cruising in a nocturnal search for adventure and profit , found him in a semi-maudlin state , descanting vaporously to his train ; and , upon catching mention of the Kalvik fisheries , snatched him homeward and put him to bed , after which he locked him into his room , threw the key over the transom , and stood guard outside until assured that he slept . At an early hour the adventurer was peremptorily roused , to find Emerson hammering at his door in a fine fury . `` What is this ? '' demanded Boyd , through white lips , thrusting a morning paper before Fraser 's sleepy eyes .