about five in the afternoon
The Indian 's arm pulled me up countless times , and his face , usually so calm , was now sharp with care . `` You can not fail here , brother , '' he would say , `` On our speed hang the lives of all . '' That put me on my mettle , for it was Elspeth 's safety I now strove for , and the thought gave life to my leaden limbs . Every minute the air grew heavier , and the sky darker , so that when about five in the afternoon we passed the Gap and struggled up the last hill to the stockade , it seemed as if night had already fallen . Elspeth and Ringan were there , and the two trappers had just returned . I could do nothing but pant on the ground , but Shalah cried out for news of Grey . He heard that he had gone into the woods with his musket two hours past .