four o'clock
It was , at times , a disturbing emotion , a foreshadowing of evil , a warning for him to be on his guard . He used the sweep more , to help their progress in the current , and he began to measure time and distance with painstaking care . He recognized many landmarks . By four o'clock , or five at the latest , they would strike the head of the Chute . Ten minutes of its thrilling passage and he would work the scow into the concealment he had in mind ashore , and no longer would he fear the arm of the law that reached out from the Landing . As he planned , he listened . From noon on he never ceased to listen for that distant putt , putt , putt , that would give them a mile 's warning of the approach of the patrol launch .