seven o'clock
But we must return and take leave of Captain Thompson , before we receive the answer to the petition . The day fixed for his departure had arrived . He had all his papers collected , and arose early to take his accustomed walk through the market . It was a little after seven o'clock , and as he approached the singular piece of wood-work that we have described in a previous chapter as the Charleston Whipping-post , he saw a crowd collected around it , and negroes running to the scene , crying out , `` Buckra gwine to get whip ! buckra get ' e back scratch ! '' & c. & c . He quickened his pace , and , arriving at the scene , elbowed his way through an immense crowd until he came to where he had a fair view .