one o'clock
It was secured with a large padlock , the key of which Ole placed in his pocket . This being satisfactorily accomplished , they returned to the place of ambush . `` Now , Mister Gascoyne , '' observed Thorwald , with a grim smile , as he sat down beside his men and pulled out his watch , `` I will await your pleasure . It is just half-past eleven ; if you are a punctual man , as Jo Bumpus led me to believe , I will try your metal in half an hour , and have you back in your cage before one o'clock ! What say you to that , Sambo ? '' The faithful native opened his huge mouth wide , and shut his eyes , thereby indicating that he laughed ; but he said nothing , bad , good , or indifferent , to his master 's facetious observation . The other natives also grinned , in a quiet but particularly knowing manner , after which the whole party relapsed into profound silence , and kept their midnight watch with exemplary patience and eager expectation .