eight o'clock
The boys gaped until they had nearly thrown their jaws out of joint . There was room enough in the cabin for four of the club , -- two in the berths , and two on the floor between them . Dory decided to sleep in the standing-room , where he was most likely to be waked by any change in the position of the schooner . By eight o'clock all hands were fast asleep . Half of them had nothing better than `` the soft side of a board '' to sleep on , but they were too tired to need beds of down . The skipper was the most wakeful sleeper in the party , but he slept for several hours without waking . When he did wake , he sprang to his feet as if conscious that he had neglected his duty as a faithful skipper .