nearly four
o'clock
Well , if a die stamp or a printing press , I believe the mystery of Old Swallowtail 's ` business ' is readily explained . '' She sat still there , crouching between the rocks , for more than two hours before the sound of the machine finally ceased . Another hour passed in absolute silence . She ventured to flash her pocket searchlight upon the dial of her watch and found it was nearly four o'clock . Dawn would come , presently , and then her situation would be more precarious than ever . While she thus reflected the sound of footsteps reached her ears -- very near to her , indeed -- and a voice muttered : `` Come this way . Have you forgotten ? ''