noon
After that the start was made at exactly eight ; and when they sped down the river at a rapid pace the negro from time to time poked his head out from his coverings to look in amazement at the buzzing little motor ; and once even ventured to raise it until he could see how swiftly they were spinning along . A short time after starting they had heard shouts and had seen their friends of the sheriff 's posse waving from the bank . Jack had spoken to the concealed black ; and for fully fifteen minutes the alarmed Erastus never so much as moved a finger , lest he in some way betray his hiding place to keen eyes on the bank . Before noon came George , who had been in the van , fell back to say that from the indications he believed they were now not more than five miles above Friar 's Point and that Erastus ought to be put ashore at the first available chance . About a mile further on Jack discovered what seemed to be a secluded cove , and thinking that this might afford a fine chance for the hidden fugitive to go ashore unseen , the two boats steered for it . Before having the black man leave , Jack thrust some money in his hand . `` There 's an address on a slip of paper -- no name , but just the number of the house in a certain town up north , '' he said .