four in the morning
Take that for your impudence . '' He struck out and slapped the helpless boy heavily upon the cheek . Then , as Dick sank back in the chair , he turned and left the cabin , closing and locking the door after him . At half-past four in the morning the _ Peacock _ got under way , and in less than an hour was far out upon the broad waters of Lake Erie . `` Dick must be drowned . '' It was Tom who spoke , addressing Sam and Aleck Pop . For hours they had searched among the floating lumber for some sign of the missing one , and the only thing that had been found was Dick 's cap , caught in a crack of one of the timbers .