four o'clock
He laid his finger on his lips , enjoining silence ; then with the same finger he pointed sternly onward , and the fireman took the hint . In the clear space aft the house and next to the funnel Mr. Reardon bound and gagged him and laid him tenderly on his back to await developments . `` Now thin , Michael , '' he said to the skipper , `` lave us go back an ' see can we catch another . At four o'clock , whin this lad fails to return , Misther Uhl , the omadhaun , will sind up another man to see what the divil ails the firrst man . '' And it was even so . This time it was the oiler . At five minutes after four a coal passer came up the stairs , and he was swearing at the delay in being relieved .