nine o'clock
Ned and Alan , in bare feet , laboriously but carefully drew the silk folds of the bag into the net . When this was completed the suspension cords reached out in all directions like skeleton fingers . In a quarter of an hour these had been attached to the retaining bags with slip knots and then the boys were surprised to find that it was already after six o'clock . At their best they could not now hope to reach the relief camp before nine o'clock and after dark . Mrs. Buck came with a huge pot of coffee for all , and then followed the last step . One by one , borne on the shoulders of the curious workmen , the dangerous carboys of sulphuric acid were emptied into the generating tanks . The boys guided each step of the men , explaining the danger , and the work was finally completed without hitch or accident .