eleven o'clock
In the soft earth at the water 's edge they discovered a spare paddle stuck upright and to it was tied a bit of cambric , her handkerchief . Phil struck a match and examined it carefully , making out a dim `` O.K. '' which she had marked on it with a lead-pencil . He heaved a breath of relief and smiled as he wrapped it carefully about a dollar bill and tucked it away in his card-case . It was just a few minutes past eleven o'clock when Cristy Lawson climbed to the railroad track out of breath and hurried towards the section shanty . She had made good time in the canoe with the swift current of the Wolverine in her favor , and she was elated at her progress . The remaining stage of the journey should not present much difficulty , once she had persuaded Thorlakson of the urgency of her mission . The place was in darkness and she tapped loudly on the window-pane of Mrs. Thorlakson 's bedroom .