three o'clock in the
morning
He closed his knife and dropped it into his pocket . `` Well , now first you want to see the dredges come in from the bay . '' He took them through the open front of the shed to the docks outside . The boats had gone out at three o'clock in the morning , he said , in the deep dark . They were coming in now heavily , loaded high with horny oysters , and Ez pointed out the rake-set iron nets with which the shellfish were dragged from their beds . `` Got 'em out of bed good and early ! '' `` I 'd hate to have to eat 'em all , '' Jimmie said suddenly in his husky little voice .