about nine o'clock
The four boys grasped one another 's hands , and Sandy declared in a solemn tone : `` We 'll stick together to the bitter end . '' `` What 's your plan ? '' asked Leander , with great interest . `` Without breathin ' a word to a soul , to-night about nine o'clock we wants to leave the boat-house , you an ' Dink in one skiff , an ' me an ' Gil in t ` other , an ' sneak up the river , an ' try so nobody wo n't see us . When we gits to the upper bridge , paddle in as close to the Causeway on the right , as we kin , huggin ' the marsh all the way . Jest before we git to Beaver Dam , there 's a deep gut that runs ` longside of it fer a hundred yards or more . Foller me in there , Leander , an ' stay hid till I sez move .