About five o'clock
I think Mr. Rowe got excited himself as he recalled old times . And when he began to bawl sea-songs with a voice like an Atlantic gale , and when he vowed in cadence `` A sailor 's life is the life for me , '' I felt that it was the life for me also , and expressed myself so strongly to that effect that Mr. Rowe became alarmed for the consequences of his indiscretion , and thenceforward told us sea-stories with the obvious and quite futile intention of disgusting me with what I already looked upon as my profession . But the barge-master 's rapid change of tactics convinced me more and more that we could not safely rely on him to help us in our plans . About five o'clock he made tea on board , and boiled the water on the little stove in the cabin . I was very anxious to help , and it was I who literally made the tea , whilst Mr. Rowe 's steadier hand cut thick slices of bread-and-butter from a large loaf . There was only one cup and saucer . Fred and I shared the cup , and the barge-master took the saucer .