about four o'clock
`` No , '' I said peevishly ; `` you can sleep if you wish to . '' `` Well , Mas ' r Harry , I do wish to , '' said Tom ; `` and that ai n't nowise wonderful , when I was hard at work all lars night . '' Tom made no more ado , but stretched himself out in the sandiest spot he could find ; and the next minute there could not be a doubt as to the state he was in , for he snored loudly . Judging from appearances , when I once more walked , gun in hand , towards the mouth of the cave , it was about four o'clock , so that there were at least five or six hours to pass before we could attempt our homeward journey . I did not dare to go far towards the mouth , lest there should be watchers there ; but picking out the best spot for observation , I stood and gazed eagerly around , scanning every crag , tree , and bush within range , in the search I made for enemies . If I could only get the treasure safely to the hacienda , we could melt it down there , and turn it into ingots handy for packing ; when , with the offer of ample for the purchase of a good farm , I could , perhaps , persuade my uncle to return to England , or , if he preferred , he might stay here . Then I thought again whether it would be wisdom to attempt to carry off the treasure by night , we two alone to guard it .