nearly one o'clock
Distant but approaching , I heard horses ' feet . They came from the direction of the fort . Aunt Marcia was unbarring the shutters and fastening the inner jalousies so as to look out unseen . `` It 's nearly one o'clock , '' some one said , and I got up , wondering how the world looked at such an hour . All hearkened to the nearing sound . `` Ah ! '' Aunt Marcia gladly cried , `` the troopers ! ''