four o'clock in the afternoon
This was a question over which Dan had often bothered his few brains , but without finding any way of answering it . Something must be determined upon now , however , for there was a nice little sum of money at stake . Dan made all haste to do his trading , and taking his stockings and shoes under his arm , set out for home , avoiding the road , as he always did when Don and Bert were about , and skulking around through the woods and fields . When he reached the cabin , he seated himself upon the bench beside the door , and there he remained building air-castles until four o'clock in the afternoon . Then he began to bestir himself , and David , who came home that night before his mother did , was surprised to find a roaring fire on the hearth , a pile of wood large enough to last all the evening beside it , and in a pan upon the table a half a dozen squirrels , dressed and ready for the frying-pan . `` What in the world is up now ? '' thought David .