eight o'clock
This message he sent to the preacher by a trustful servant , Joshua . The servant rode through the night , but did not reach the village till the middle of the next morning . Horse and man were very much exhausted . The eight o'clock meeting was just closing and the preaching service was about to begin , when Joshua rode up to the little meeting-house . Jasper , looking through the open door , saw Joshua , whom he knew as one of Judge LeMonde 's slaves . Thinking something was wrong , Jasper hurried from the church and spoke to the messenger . Joshua gave him the note .