about five
o'clock
They meant to be out all night in hiding , and in the morning they would come back and take their beatings . David comfortably reflected that Uncle Reuben could n't do him much harm , and , though Louie could hardly flatter herself so far , her tone , also , in the matter was philosophical . ` Theer 's soom bits o ' owd books i ' th ' top-attic , ' she said to David ; ` I 'll leave 'em in t ' stable , an when we coom home , I 'll tie 'em on my back -- under my dress -- an she may leather away till Christmas . ' So on their return from Clough End with the bread -- about five o'clock -- they slipped into the field , crouching under the wall , so as to escape Hannah 's observation , deposited their basket by the gate , took up a bundle and tin box which David had hidden that morning under the hedge , and , creeping back again into the road , passed noiselessly through the gate on to the moor , just as Aunt Hannah was lifting the kettle off the fire for tea . Then came a wild and leaping flight over the hill , down to the main Kinder stream , across it , and up the face of the Scout -- up , and up , with smothered laughter , and tumbles and scratches at every step , and a glee of revolt and adventure swelling every vein . It was then a somewhat stormy afternoon , with alternate gusts of wind and gleams of sun playing on the black boulders , the red-brown slopes of the mountain . The air was really cold and cutting , promising a frosty night .