eleven
o'clock
But ? '' Sandy sat dejectedly by the wall and said nothing . He knew that he was still suspected of leading the boys into the trap in which they now found themselves , and was studying over plans to assist them out and at the same time establish his innocence . It seemed to the lads that a whole day passed without a single thing to break the monotony , but Frank 's watch insisted that it was only eleven o'clock . It was dark most of the time in the chamber , for the boys were saving of their flashlight batteries . Finally one of the plans which had been slowly maturing in Sandy 's brain brought the lad into action . Noiselessly he crept away from the little group and moved on his hands and knees , along the tunnel leading to the cellar of the old mud house .