about nine o'clock
They carried no weapons , they made no demonstration of anger . There was no attempt to hustle or even to jeer at the red-coats , who stood with grounded arms in a clear space of the roadway and fretted under the slow curious scrutiny of thousands , of eyes . Neighbours nodded and `` passed the time of day , '' : acquaintances from the two coasts of the Duchy met , exchanged greetings and enquiries , lit their pipes and strolled about together . It might have been a gathering for a horse-race or a game of hurling , but for the extreme orderliness of the throng and a note of strained expectancy in its buzz of talk ; and the likeness was strengthened about nine o'clock , when , in the broad field to the south-west , half a dozen merchants began to erect their sweet-meat booths or `` standings , '' -- always an accompaniment of Cornish merrymaking . It was just then that Sir James rode back from his reconnaissance . He had fetched a circuit of Steens without discovering a weak spot , and his temper had steadily risen with the increase of the crowd . His dignity now stood fairly at stake .