About eleven o'clock
When all those terrors would not suggest even a thought of turning back , you may judge of the character of this girl and her motive . They traveled on , galloping when they could , trotting when they could not gallop , and walking when they must . At one time they thought they heard the sound of following horses , and hastened on as fast as they dared go , until , stopping to listen and hearing nothing , they concluded they were wrong . About eleven o'clock , however , right out of the black bank of night in front of them they heard , in earnest , the sucking splash of horses ' hoofs . In an instant the sound ceased and the silence was worse than the noise . The cry `` Hollo ! '' brought them all to a stand , and Mary thought her time had come .