ten
o'clock
With his back toward Thorne he said , half laughing , `` Perhaps Gregson was afraid that the fellow who clipped off his finger would get him through the window , eh ? '' He pretended not to perceive the effect of his words on the senior engineer . The two sat down to supper and for an hour after they had finished they smoked and talked on the business of the camp . It was ten o'clock when Thorne and Jackpine left the cabin . No sooner had they gone than Howland closed and barred the door , lighted another cigar , and began pacing rapidly up and down the room . Already there were developments . Gregson had lied to him about his finger .