Three o'clock
Now at last the gold was on the spot of ocean indicated by the kidnappers , but there was no sign of sail or ship , no promise of their coming . Men with telescopes in the rigging of the _ Flora _ were on the outlook in vain . They could pick up one of the floating giants of our fleet , far off to the East , but North , West and South were empty wastes of water . ` Three o'clock has come and gone . I hope there has been no accident , ' said Mr. Macrae nervously . ` But where are those thieves ? ' He absently pressed his repeater , it tingled out the half-hour .