about ten o'clock
`` Yes , my boy , it must ; and now look here : not a word to them indoors . It would only startle mamma and the girls . Your uncle and I will be going to keep watch to-night , and you can slip out of your window as you did last night . '' Hence it was that about ten o'clock that night the little party were all crouching by the palings watching , as well as the darkness would allow , and listening for the faintest sound , not a word being uttered for fear the black 's abnormally sharp ears should detect their presence , and make him keep away . Time glided by , till an hour must have passed , and then they heard a sharp neigh , followed by the trampling of feet , as if the horses had been startled . Then came the low murmur of a voice , followed by a few light pats as of some one caressing a horse ; and , a minute later , in spite of the darkness , Norman made out that his father had passed through the rails into the paddock . Then , just as he was in agony for fear the captain should be ridden over , or some other accident should befall him , he heard the approaching pace of a horse , but only at a walk .