seven o'clock
In the morning as they were about to breakfast and be off again Bob caught sight of a deer . A little jerked venison would not come amiss , he thought , and as the ammunition was plentiful he darted through the woods in pursuit . The fact that Bob was a poor hunter probably saved Alan 's life . He was gone an hour and a half and when he returned it was after seven o'clock . The two boys had just extinguished their fire and were about to shoulder their packs when a well-known but strained call arrested them . `` Camp ahoy ? '' It was their leader , Ned Napier , his cheeks sunken , and his body swaying from weakness , but cheery as of old , advancing slowly through the trees .