nine o'clock
Rodney opened his lips to thank the captain for his kindness , but he was gone . The old steamboat-man sympathized with the South , and Captain Howard and his friends had found it out , and induced him to do what he could to help Rodney escape the expectant Yankee cotton-factor at St. Louis . The boy laughed aloud when he thought how astonished and angry Tom Randolph would be to learn that he had wasted time and telegrams to no purpose . He passed the rest of the day in company with Captain Howard and his friends , nearly all of whom held some position of trust under the new government , and at nine o'clock , in obedience to a significant wink and nod from the skipper , he went below and put the saddle and bridle on his horse . Just then the whistle sounded for Cedar Bluff landing , and some of the passengers came down to bid him good-by and see him safely ashore . `` A boy with your ability and pluck ought to make his mark in the service , and I wish I could keep track of you , '' said Captain Howard , giving Rodney 's hand a cordial shake . `` But I shall most likely be ordered East , hundreds of miles away from here , and possibly I may never hear of you again ; but I shall often think of you .