nine o'clock
`` Very well , Rover , he can go if he wishes . '' `` To be sure I 'll go , '' said Songbird , when told of this . `` And we 'll find Tom , see if we do n't , '' he added , by way of cheering Sam . Sam waited until nine o'clock to see if Tom would show himself and then he and Songbird drove over the Ashton . A search lasting the best part of an hour followed , but nothing new was learned . Then , rather reluctantly -- for he knew that Dick was having trouble enough attending to their father 's affairs -- he sent a telegram to his big brother , telling of Tom 's disappearance , and adding that he would telegraph again , if anything new turned up . In driving over to Hope Seminary Mr. Sanderson had pointed out to Sam the spot where he had seen -- or thought he had seen -- Tom .