six o'clock
The morning wore slowly on , mid-day came and went , the afternoon dragged its dismal length , and still there was no change in our position . Towards sundown the same gigantic negro entered the room again , bringing us our evening meal . When he left we were locked up for the night , with only the contemplation of our woes , and the companionship of the multitudes of mice that scampered about the floor , to enliven us . The events of the next seven days are hardly worth chronicling , unless it is to state that every morning at daylight the same cock crew and the same dog barked , while at six o'clock the same cripple invariably made his way down the street behind me . At eight o'clock almost to the minute , breakfast was served to us , and , just as punctually , the evening meal made its appearance as the sun was declining behind the opposite house-top . Not again did we see any sign of Mr. Prendergast , and though times out of number I tugged at my chain I was never a whit nearer loosening it than I had been on the first occasion . One after another plans of escape were proposed , discussed , and invariably rejected as impracticable .