four o'clock
in the morning
Now , however , it was all different ; as what with the bustle of preparation in storing the last of their cargo , and seeing to those endless little matters which had to be put in ship-shape manner before the anchor was weighed , and the actual departure itself , their time had been fully occupied nearly from dawn to sundown , and their feet and hands busy enough in running about on deck and aloft , directing the crew under the captain 's orders , and lending assistance where wanted . So it was with the comfortable assurance of having earned their four hours ' rest that they went below that first night at sea . `` I guess old Tompkins will have to rap pretty loud to make me budge at eight bells , '' said Tom with a portentous yawn , as he peeled off his reefing jacket and turned in `` all standing , '' as he expressed it , with the exception of his boots . He was too tired to undress ; and besides , he thought , in his lazy way , what was the use of his doing so when he would have to turn out again and relieve the first mate at four o'clock in the morning , just as he was beginning to enjoy himself . `` By George , a sailor 's life is a dog 's life ! '' he muttered out aloud . `` What , eh ? ''