eight o'clock
They immediately followed in the wake of the carrier toward the admiral . As all the smacks were heading towards the same centre , they came in on every tack , and from all points of the compass . `` Look sharp , boys , '' said David Bright , who was steering , `` we must git every fish aboard . It 's now eight o'clock , an ' she wo n't wait beyond eleven or twelve , you may be sure . '' There was no need for the caution . Every man and boy was already doing his utmost . It fell to Billy 's lot to help in packing the trunks , and deftly he did it , -- keeping soles , turbot , and halibut separate , to form boxes , or `` trunks of prime , '' and packing other fish as much as possible according to their kind , until he came to roker , dabs , gurnets , etcetera , which he packed together under the name of `` offal . ''