the hour of four
Chapter I Chapter II Chapter III Chapter IV Chapter V Chapter VI Chapter VII Chapter VIII Chapter IX Chapter X Chapter XI Chapter XII Chapter XIII Chapter XIV Chapter XV Chapter XVI Chapter XVII Chapter XVIII Chapter XIX Chapter XX Chapter XXI Chapter XXII Chapter XXIII Chapter XXIV Chapter XXV Chapter XXVI TEMPEST AND SUNSHINE It was the afternoon of a bright October day . The old town clock had just tolled the hour of four , when the Lexington and Frankfort daily stage was heard rattling over the stony pavement in the small town of V -- -- , Kentucky . In a few moments the four panting steeds were reined up before the door of The Eagle , the principal hotel in the place . `` Mine host , '' a middle-aged , pleasant-looking man , came hustling out to inspect the newcomers , and calculate how many would do justice to his beefsteaks , strong coffee , sweet potatoes and corn cakes , which were being prepared in the kitchen by Aunt Esther . This good dame divided her time between squeezing the steaks , turning the corn cakes , kicking the dogs and administering various cuffs to sundry little black urchins , who were on the lookout to snatch a bit of the `` hoe cake '' whenever they could elude the argus eyes of Aunt Esther .