four in the
morning
A shift of four points into the south-west , coming just at the right time as they entered upon Caribou Crossing , drove them down that connecting link to lakes Tagish and Marsh . In stormy sunset and twilight -- they made the dangerous crossing of Great Windy Arm , wherein they beheld two other boat-loads of gold-rushers capsize and drown . Charles was for beaching for the night , but Liverpool held on , steering down Tagish by the sound of the surf on the shoals and by the occasional shore-fires that advertised wrecked or timid argonauts . At four in the morning , he aroused Charles . Old Tarwater , shiveringly awake , heard Liverpool order Crayton aft beside him at the steering-sweep , and also heard the one-sided conversation . `` Just listen , friend Charles , and keep your own mouth shut , '' Liverpool began . `` I want you to get one thing into your head and keep it there : _ old dad 's going by the police _ .