nine o'clock
Randy and Nugget were too hungry to wait any longer , so they ate their supper by twilight . When it grew a little darker they built a roaring fire at the edge of the water . There was an abundance of driftwood farther up the slope , which had been left there at various times by the high water . When nine o'clock came the boys were seriously alarmed , and all sorts of dreadful possibilities occurred to them . They found it impossible to sleep , and all through the long hours of that night they sat about the fire , constantly piling on wood , and keeping a huge blaze going to guide the missing ones to the camp . The first glimmer of dawn found them worn out by sleeplessness and despair . It was impossible to maintain their vigil any longer , so they stuck the pennant in the sand close to the edge of the water , and crawling into the tent , went to sleep side by side .