eight o'clock in the evening
`` Wh-wh-what was that ? '' gasped Pepper , as he got his wind again and began to caress his ribs where the oar handle had struck him . `` I 've only got one guess , '' laughed Dick , `` but I should say it was the bottom of the river , '' while Rand sarcastically suggested that it was n't part of the business of this expedition to try and clear the channel of the Lewes . It was eight o'clock in the evening , and the sun in that high latitude was still visible when the boats reached the mouth of the stream known as Gold Creek , which entered the Lewes from the southeast . It was some miles up this confluent that Colonel Snow 's land lay , and by direction of Swiftwater the Indian boatmen skilfully rounded the batteaus out of the current of the Lewes into the Creek and into a little backwater formed by a projecting sandy point between the two streams . Here the water was fairly deep , and as no trees came down to the water 's edge two of the Indians held the boat up to the bank , while the third sprang ashore with coils of rope and two long iron stakes which he drove deep into the gravel and sand , and tied the stern and bow of the boat to the bank . The other boat was fastened the same way , and Swiftwater , springing ashore and stretching his long legs , cried : `` All ashore ; we 'll make camp here , tonight . ''