five o’clock
To be sure they were so awfully tired that I could n't help pitying them ; but Uncle Doc had tried to persuade them not to walk , so that it was their own fault after all . You can not imagine what a dreadful feeling it gives one to be climbing a slippery , rocky path , and know that a great heavy boy is pulling your horse backwards by the tail . Polly insisted that she heard her mule 's tail break loose from its moorings , and on measuring it when she got back to camp she found it three inches longer than usual . The mule acted like original sin all day , and Polly was so completely worn-out that she went to bed at five o'clock ; Jack was a good deal the worse for wear too , so that they got on beautifully all day . It is queer that they irritate each other so , for I am sure that there is no lack of real friendship between them ; but Jack is a confirmed tease , and he seems to keep all his mischief bottled up for especial use with Polly . I have tried to keep him out of trouble , as you asked me ; and although it gives me plenty to do , I am succeeding tolerably well , except in his dealings with Polly . I lecture him continually , but ` every time he opens his mouth he puts his foot in it . '