nine o'clock
In the end it was our own tender-hearted Aggie who baked pancakes for them and , loosening their hands while I stood guard , saw that they had not only food but the gentle refreshment of fresh tea . Tish it was , however , who , not to be outdone in magnanimity , permitted them to go , one by one , to the stream to wash . Escape , without horses or weapons , was impossible , and they realized it . By nine o'clock we were ready to return . And here a difficulty presented itself . There were six prisoners and only three of us . The men , fed now , were looking less subdued , although they pretended to obey Tish 's commands with alacrity .