one o’clock
Right against and overshadowing the house was an enormous pine , the top of which we had seen through a glass for the last two days , but of course without knowing that it marked the site of the mission station . I was the first to see the house , and could not restrain myself from giving a hearty cheer , in which the others , including the natives , joined lustily . There was no thought of halting now . On we laboured , for , unfortunately , though the house seemed quite near , it was still a long way off by river , until at last , by one o'clock , we found ourselves at the bottom of the slope on which the building stood . Running the canoes to the bank , we disembarked , and were just hauling them up on to the shore , when we perceived three figures , dressed in ordinary English-looking clothes , hurrying down through a grove of trees to meet us . ` A gentleman , a lady , and a little girl , ' ejaculated Good , after surveying the trio through his eyeglass , ` walking in a civilized fashion , through a civilized garden , to meet us in this place . Hang me , if this is n't the most curious thing we have seen yet ! '