about nine o'clock
The proposal to go after the bear pleased all the young hunters , and they decided to lose no time in getting ready for the trip . `` As there is no telling what luck we may have on the mountain , or when we 'll get back , we had better take sufficient food with us to last all day , '' suggested the doctor 's son . The sky looked a trifle uncertain to them , but nobody wanted to stay in camp waiting for it to rain . They started off about nine o'clock , taking to the trail they had previously pursued . Snap led the way , with the others following in Indian file . The leader of the club had a rifle while the others were provided with shotguns . They carried with them sufficient ammunition to bring down a dozen bears .