nine o'clock
It had seemed about `` forty-eleven hours long , '' Spider admitted ; though he also triumphantly asked Tom Betts whether the other had had occasion to jab that pin into him even once , which the second scout laughingly admitted he had not . `` See there , '' Spider had declared , `` ca n't I keep awake when duty calls me ? You need n't be afraid to trust a Sexton , when you need a faithful watcher . '' Before the sun appeared Paul and Jack were on hand , to make sure that everything was in shape for an early start , for they hoped to get away by nine o'clock . Others of the scouts began to drop around , and from the appearance of their eyes Paul was of the opinion that a full night 's sleep had not been enjoyed by many of the members of the troop . Of course , it was the excitement of starting out on such a glorious cruise that kept them awake ; for it is not given to scouts very often to enjoy such a prospect , afloat , with staunch motorboats given over into their keeping . Since so many things had been looked after on the preceding afternoon , there was really little to be done that morning .