eight o'clock
`` Do n't tell me , '' Tish said triumphantly , `` that any young man comes here absolutely alone without a purpose ! '' `` I had a purpose , all right ; but it was not to blow up a railroad train . '' Apparently he thought he had said too much , for he relapsed into silence after that , with an occasional muttering . It was eight o'clock when Hutchins 's canoe came into sight . She was paddling easily , but the detective was far behind and moving slowly . She saw the camp with its uninvited guests , and then she saw us . The detective , however , showed no curiosity ; and we could see that he made for his landing and stumbled exhaustedly up the bank .