nine o'clock
The wheelman , who was an old river pilot , was thoroughly acquainted with what he called the `` Yukon flats , '' and managed to elude the sandbars and sunken islands with considerable dexterity . `` The trouble is , '' he confided to Swiftwater , `` that this old river is closed six months in the year , and we never can tell whether we 're goin ' to find any of it here when the ice goes out in the spring . It wanders ` round as if it had no home or mother , and where we find a twenty-foot channel this fall there may be a dusty wagon road next spring . '' At nine o'clock in the forenoon , Swiftwater rose and stepped onto the roof of the cabin and scanned the far-off shore intently . Suddenly , he turned to the interested Scouts , and removing his broad brim made a mock bow and said impressively : `` Young fellows , let me welcome you to the Frigid Zone ; we have just crossed Arctic Circle . '' `` Wha -- wha -- where is it ? '' cried Pepper excitedly .