nine o'clock
It was the Goodloe mine ! In spite of utter fatigue and hunger , Roger would not stop now . In high spirits he took the familiar road toward home . It was nine o'clock when he passed the Preble ranch house , silent and lightless , but with the horses munching in the corral . He stopped to pick up a measure of oats for Peter , then he began the last lap of his journey . There was a bright fire glowing at the Sun Plant . As he neared it , he gave a shout .