about three o'clock in the morning
He explained to them that he had walked the whole two miles from the camp through the woods , guided by the sound of the wagon , thus avoiding the possibility of being apprehended by the mob in case they should attack the wagon . He had arrived at the Bunk farm about the same time as the wagon had , but not having the inconvenience of a team to attend to , had sat down under the tree to rest . The mob naturally supposed that Evangelist Blank would somehow make his way from the campground to Jake Benton 's . Benton and his family arrived home from the camp about three o'clock in the morning . They had been there only half an hour when they were aroused by the shout of the mob , who demanded that the preacher should be yielded up to them . Not until they had thoroughly searched Benton 's home would they believe Jake 's contention that Evangelist Blank was not on the premises . Finally , when they were convinced that Benton could not or would not tell them where the preacher was they withdrew to a clump of woods a short distance from Benton 's home and , the morning air being chilly , built a fire .