nine o'clock
The fact that the ranger was a commissioned officer of the law , and that the ram 's head had been found on the poacher 's pack , made very little difference to these irresponsible instigators to assault . It was wonderful how highly that loafing young rascal , Joe Gregg , was prized at the moment . `` It 's an outrage that the son of a leading citizen should be held up in this way by one of the forestry Cossacks , '' declared one of the merchants . The discussion which took place over the bars of the town was at the riot-heat by nine o'clock , and soon after ten a crowd of howling , whooping bad boys , and disreputable ranch-hands was parading the walks , breathing out vile threats against the ranger . Accustomed to men of this type , Cavanagh watched them come and go at Halsey 's bar with calculating eyes . `` There will be no trouble for an hour or two , but meanwhile what is to be done ? Higley is not to be found , and the town marshal is also ` out of town . ' ''