About four o'clock in the morning
At the same season of the year , the same operation can still be witnessed at the same place -- the narrow ledge beneath the cliff , along the river-bank , especially near the abutment of the broken Suspension Bridge . The elder of the two men was a sturdy Welshman -- Jonas Evans by name -- a Methodist of the Lady Huntingdon connexion . The other , Jim Larkins , was Canadian born , the son of a neighbouring farmer . About four o'clock in the morning they emerged from their spruce booth and began hauling with their rude windlass upon the seine , heavily laden with fish . `` Hark ! '' exclaimed Jonas to his companion , `` what noise is that ? I thought I heard the splash of oars . ''