nine
o'clock
It was started in front of the cavern , which was of so slight extent that it received and held much of the warmth . Seated within the opening , with their heavy blankets wrapped about them , the boys were thoroughly comfortable . They had met with enough stirring adventure and had had sufficient rough experience to make the rest highly acceptable . They naturally wondered when nine o'clock passed without bringing Hank Hazletine . `` Maybe he has lost his way in the canyon , '' suggested Fred , giving expression to a fancy which was not serious . `` You mean that he has forgotten where the stairs lead up to the top ? '' `` I guess that 's what I mean , though I never thought of it before .