about ten in the morning
Then they heard the reports of both barrels of his fowling-piece , fired in quick succession , the signals that he had joined his guide . This welcome news received , the two gentlemen returned slowly towards the house . Such was the commencement of a day , which , while it brought forth nothing alarming to the family of the Hutted Knoll , was still pregnant with important consequences . Major Willoughby disappeared from the sight of his father about ten in the morning ; and before twelve , the settlement was alive with the rumours of a fresh arrival . Joel knew not whether to rejoice or to despair , as he saw a party of eight or ten armed men rising above the rock , and holding their course across the flats towards the house . He entertained no doubt of its being a party sent by the provincial authorities to arrest the captain , and he foresaw the probability of another 's being put into the lucrative station of receiver of the estate , during the struggle which was in perspective . It is surprising how many , and sometimes how pure patriots are produced by just such hopes as those of Joel 's .