Five o'clock
They were given ; but the Bunkers were too much bewildered by the appearance of the gorgeous boat , with its silken flags and bright colors , its gilded name and its graceful shape , to heed the cheers of the club . `` Give way ! '' said Frank ; and under the direction of Uncle Ben , he managed the helm so as to make the Zephyr describe a graceful semicircle round the raft . `` Five o'clock , '' said the old sailor ; `` we must go ashore . '' Frank steered for the rock , and they came alongside in due form ; Tony `` fended off '' with the boat-hook when they reached it , and the club separated for the night , leaving the boat in charge of Uncle Ben . At school the next day , the club boat was the principal topic of conversation among the boys . Those who had been invited to join the club were regarded as especially fortunate .