midnight
Toward morning the wind began to blow ; it began to grow cold . The noises on the neighbouring boat grew fainter in the low rumble of a stormy wind out of the northwest , and the shanty-boat lifted at intervals on a wave that rolled out of the main current and across the eddy , making their operating room even more unstable . Under their onslaught the death which was taking hold of Jest Prebol was checked , and the river rat whose life had been forfeited for his sly crimes became the object of a doctor 's sentiment and belief in his own training . Long after midnight , when some few of the patrons of the games had already taken their departure , the doors opened oftener and oftener , letting the geometrical shaft of the yellow light flare out across the waters , and the grotesque shadows of those who departed stood out against the night and waters as the men shivered in the wind and bent to feel their way into the boats . After dawn Doctor Grell and his assistant , peaked and white , limp with their tremendous effort , and shivering with exhaustion of mind and body , walked out of the little shanty-boat , up to the big one , sat down with Buck and Slip to breakfast , and then took their own course across the ruffled and tumble-surfaced river . `` I ` low he 'll pull through , '' Doctor Grell admitted , almost reluctantly . `` He 's in bad shape , though , with the things the bullet carried into him , but we sure swabbed him out .