about
three o'clock
Then up a winding path the four horses labored patiently , halting often to rest and get their breaths . At such times the passengers gloried in the superb views of the valley and its farms and were never impatient to proceed . They passed one or two modest villas , for this splendid location had long ago been discovered by a few others besides Will Morrison who loved to come here for their vacations and so escape the maddening crowds of the cities . Aunt Hannah had planned the trip with remarkable accuracy , for at about three o'clock the lumbering stage stopped at a pretty chalet half hidden among the tall pines and overlooking a steep bluff . Here the baggage and boxes were speedily unloaded . `` I got ta git back ter meet the aft ` noon train , '' said Bill Coombs , their driver . `` They wo n't be any more passingers in this direction , tai n't likely , 'cause the houses ` roun ' here is mighty scattered an ' no one 's expectin ' nobody , as I know of .