about
noon
As the day wore on , and nothing was seen of the force which it was believed would appear , Ralph said to Bob : `` If father started as soon as he got my telegram , he ought to be here on the train to-night , and some of us must drive into town for him . '' `` That 's true , and you must be the one to go , '' replied Bob , decidedly . `` You can take my team , and if any one comes while you are gone , we shall get rid of them , I guess . '' Since Mr. Hillman wished to go to his office for some law-books and papers before Mr. Gurney arrived , Ralph started off with him about noon , leaving the farm with the often-expressed wish that nothing would happen during the absence of three of the defenders . `` If you mean by that that you 're afraid some of Massie 's men may get in here , you 're mistaken , '' said Bob , stoutly . `` Unless we have a mind to let them , which is n't at all likely , there wo n't one of them get a chance to so much as show his nose inside . '' Now that Mr. Simpson had succeeded in gathering his scattered faculties once more , and understood that everything might yet be well with them , he seemed suddenly to have grown young again , for he was as eager in watching for approaching danger as Bob was .