seven minutes after ten
As yet he had seen nothing of Allan . The bald top of the hill was in plain sight from where the scout-master sat , perched aloft , but he scanned it in vain . Thad would not allow himself to doubt that presently the second in command of the patrol would show up there . He knew Allan was a stickler for obeying orders to the very letter , and if his superior had said that he should reach the crown of that hill at exactly seven minutes after ten , the chances were fifty to one Allan would make his appearance on the second ; or there would be trouble in the camp . So , to amuse himself while waiting Thad turned partly around , and looked after Davy . At first he was astonished not to see the floating log on the troubled surface of the lake to leeward , where it had been moving at a pretty fast clip when the scout-messenger left the island . He experienced a sudden sensation of alarm , but immediately took a fresh grip on himself .