three o'clock
I plead poverty because I did not wish people to consider me rich , and I suppose by that means I have saved my life : for if the marauders of those parts knew me to possess gold , my hut would have been turned inside out , but that it would have been discovered . No , no ; keep your money , and may you do good with it . '' We mounted our horses again , and hugging the bag of gold to my saddle bow , as though fearful I should meet bushrangers to dispute my right to it at every step , we recrossed the prairie , meeting Smith on the way , to whom we imparted our good fortune , and received his congratulations . By three o'clock the gold was safe under the hearthstone , and then we breathed free , and felt that we indeed owned it . By six o'clock Smith joined us with his dilapidated cart , when we immediately commenced repairing it , and getting ready for our journey towards Ballarat . By the ingenious use of tree limbs , we were enabled to repair it sufficiently to carry all of our freight ; and after it was loaded on , we ate our supper , and prepared for an early start . The gold , which we were so glad to obtain possession of , troubled us , however .