a quarter before eight in the
morning
There was a glitter in those small , black eyes that the young man did not like . Neither was the Clown 's nor the trapper 's opinion of him any more flattering . As for the old dog , he showed his dislike by discreetly keeping away from him . Though Bergstein left Big Shanty at a quarter before eight in the morning with the order for the horses in his pocket , it was noon by the sawmill whistle before he reached Morrison 's . There he engaged a single rig to take him out to the railroad . What he had done , or where he had been in the meantime , no one knew . Early in August Big Shanty was ready for its owner ; ready , too , when it had been promised .