nine o'clock
It was a happy awakening in the life-saving station the next morning , for both the rescued men were well on the road to recovery . Eric had intended to be the first to tell Willett the entire story , but the events of the night had been a heavy strain on him and he had slept late . Indeed , he did not waken until the gang of boys came round for their morning drill . Drill was scheduled at nine o'clock , but it was seldom that there failed to be at least half a dozen urchins around the station by eight , or even earlier . `` What 's all this drill the kids are talking about ? '' Willett asked Eric , as the boy came back from breakfast . `` To hear the way they go on , you 'd think it was the only important thing that had been scheduled since the world began ! ''