noon
By four o'clock , or five at the latest , they would strike the head of the Chute . Ten minutes of its thrilling passage and he would work the scow into the concealment he had in mind ashore , and no longer would he fear the arm of the law that reached out from the Landing . As he planned , he listened . From noon on he never ceased to listen for that distant putt , putt , putt , that would give them a mile 's warning of the approach of the patrol launch . He did not keep his plans to himself . Marette sensed his growing uneasiness , and he made her a partner of his thoughts . `` If we hear the patrol before we reach the Chute , we 'll still have time to run ashore , '' he assured her .