about six o'clock
He has a boat-house on the river bank from which a flight of steps leads down to a long `` float '' extending into the river . His boats are moored to that float , or anchored near the end of it . He has several fine , fast cat-boats , of which he is very proud . Uncle Jimmy was overhauling his boats about six o'clock on the morning after the events just described , when a man , whom he had never seen before , came somewhat hurriedly down the steps , and said he wished to hire a cat-boat . `` I want the fastest boat in the fleet , '' he said . Uncle Jimmy looked the stranger over carefully . There was a bandage around his head .