ten
A.M.
The captain stood with his hand on the wheel , gazing restlessly out over the water . `` I wonder what can have happened ? '' muttered Tom Curtis impatiently . `` Here it is , as plain as the nose on your face : the ` Merry Maid ' with four houseboat girls , a chaperon and one other passenger , will join the ` Sea Gull ' at the entrance to the Rappahannock River on the southern side of the Virginia shore near Shingray Point , on August first , at ten A.M. '' Tom looked up from the paper he was reading . `` We have the time and the place all right , have n't we , fellows ? But where are the girls ? '' `` Cheer up , old man ! ''