eight in the
morning
`` Until your craft is launched , sir , I 'll sleep here nights , beginning with what 's left of to-night . '' Before the inventor left the yard , he hunted for and found the drunken night watchman , who was still asleep . That worthless guard was discharged the following day . When the new foreman 's gang started on the `` Pollard , '' at eight in the morning , there was no outward ripple to show that anything unusual had happened . True , Jacob Farnum arrived at the shed earlier than he was accustomed to do , but those of the workmen who were not in the secret thought nothing of that . Half an hour later Josh Owen , a peculiar , gleaming look in his eyes , showed his head at the manhole opening over their heads . `` Good morning , Mr. Farnum , '' he called .