nine o'clock exactly
` Oh , yes ? He 's run the river as deck-hand for goin ' nigh on to three year . ' '' ` Then he ought to know something , certainly . Come around tomorrow morning , at nine o'clock exactly , and I 'll see what can be done for you . Now , mind , I say nine o'clock in the morning . ' `` Well , the next morning , at the appointed time , to my utter astonishment , the man was on hand , and , as usual , commenced walking up and down the floor with his squeaking boots . The noise disturbed everyone within hearing , and presently the captain , who was in his office , and so busy that he hardly knew what he was about , spoke in a sharp tone : '' ` Orderly , pull off those squeaking boots ! ' ''