nine o'clock
She assented , therefore , to the arrangement , and , like her kinsman , beheld , in the fresh light of sun-rise , without a sigh , without even a single foreboding of evil , the departure of the train of emigrants , with whom she had journeyed in safety so many long and weary leagues through the desert . They set out in high spirits , after shaking hands with their hosts at the gates , and saluting them with cheers , which they repeated in honour of their young captain ; and , in a few moments , the whole train had vanished , as if swallowed up by the dark forest . Within an hour after the emigrants had set out , the sky , which had previously been clear and radiant , began to be overcast with clouds , dropping occasional rains , which Roland scarcely observed with regret , their effect on the sultry atmosphere being highly agreeable and refreshing . They continued thus to fall at intervals until nine o'clock ; when Roland , as he sat on the porch debating with Bruce the probabilities of their continuance , was roused by a shout from the outer village ; and looking up , he beheld , to his great delight , Richard Bruce , the second son of his host , a lad of sixteen , ride into the enclosure , leading in triumph his recovered charger . `` Thar 's the brute , strannger ! '' said he , with uncommon glee : `` he war too hard a horse for Ralph 's riding ; and , I reckon , if he had n't been , you would n't have had him so easy , for he 's a peeler at a run , trot , or gallop , he is , I tell you ! It 's bad luck for Stackpole to be flung by man and beast two days hand-running , -- first by Bloody Nathan , then by a stolen crittur ! ''