afternoon about three
o'clock
One day , three days before the end of January , as Perez , returning from a walk , approached the guardhouse , he saw that it was in possession of Deputy Sheriff Seymour and a posse . The rebel garrison of three or four men only , having made no resistance , had been disarmed and let go . Perez turned on his heel and went home . That same afternoon about three o'clock , as he was sitting in the house , his brother Reuben , who had been on the watch , came in and said that a party of militia were approaching . `` I 've saddled your horse , Perez , and hitched him to the fence . You 've got a good start , but it wo n't do to wait a minute . '' Then Perez rose up , bade his father and mother and brother good-bye , and went out and mounted his horse .