eight o'clock
Every nerve and sinew in his body was alive for the combat . He thrilled with an overwhelming confidence , a conviction of his ability to win , an almost dangerous , self-conviction of approaching triumph in spite of the odds in weight and brute strength which were pitted against him . A dozen times he listened at the bulkhead between him and Marie-Anne , and still he heard no movement on the other side . It was eight o'clock when one of the bateau men appeared at the door and asked if he was ready . Quickly David joined him . He forgot his taunts to Concombre Bateese , forgot the softly padded gloves in his pack with which he had promised to pommel the half-breed into oblivion . He was thinking only of naked fists .