ten o'clock
Crooked is the river trail , but good the footing , and good time was made . When there was a north reach , the snow was extra hard or the ice clear and the scouts slipped off their snow shoes , and trotted at a good six-mile gait . Three times they halted for tea and rest , but the fact that they were the bearers of precious despatches , the bringers of inspiring good news , and their goal ever nearer , spurred them on and on . It was ten o'clock that morning when they left the mill , some thirty miles from Ogdensburg . It was now near sundown , but still they figured that by an effort they could reach the goal that night . It was their best day 's travel , but they were nerved to it by the sense of triumph as they trotted ; and the prospective joy of marching up to the commandant and handing over the eagerly looked for , reassuring documents , gave them new strength and ambition . Yes !