about ten o'clock
We may be away for four months , and perhaps we may not come back till the snow sets in , so do n't expect a letter till you see it . '' This was by far the longest letter Tom had ever written , and it took him several hours to get through . He had the room to himself , for the others were talking over their adventures with old friends they had met at the fort . His uncle returned about ten o'clock . `` Where are the others ? '' Tom asked . `` In the saloon ; but they are not drinking , that is , not drinking much .