four o'clock
`` What are you doing now , Jack ? '' called Jacob Farnum sharply , as he and Pollard moved forward to stand by the young captain . `` I 'll tell you , in a few minutes , if our move seems to be any good , sir , '' Jack answered . By four o'clock half the space between the Rhinds boat and the Pollard craft had been covered . By this time two men were observed aft on the `` Zelda , '' their gaze turned steadily on the `` Benson . '' `` Take the wheel for two or three minutes , Eph , '' begged the young captain , on whom the strain was beginning to tell . Then , turning to his employers , Jack went on : `` The way Hal and I figured it out , sir , the ` Benson ' is really the faster boat .