ten o'clock
They had examined the river-front and felt fairly certain that the wild man had not left by boat . `` Looks like a wild-goose chase , '' remarked Phil , with a sigh , after a half an hour had passed . `` Oh , we do n't want to give up yet , '' answered Dave . `` Why , it is n't much after ten o'clock . We can stay out till noon , at least . '' `` I 'd stay out all day , if I thought we could catch him , '' returned the shipowner 's son , promptly . Presently the boys espied a small stone house , standing beside a brook which flowed through the woods into the river .