three o'clock
It was dusk at Almy when his panting horse struggled painfully up the slope and , dismounting , a weary rider saluted the post commander and handed him a note . By this time Mrs. Archer , Mrs. Stannard and Lilian , too , were on the platform , and the mother 's arm stole instinctively about the daughter 's slender waist , while every eye was on the general as he quickly opened , then slowly read aloud the pencilled words : `` We have the couriers safe . They are from up the Verde , badly scared and worn out . Say they have been chased by Indians ever since three o'clock , were almost out of ammunition . Lieutenant Willett , venturing too far on the east side , while we were to the west of the stream , must have encountered some of them . We heard firing , and followed . Found his horse dead among the rocks and Willett lying near , stunned , but certainly not shot .