eight o'clock
I lost my trail , bogged myself in a swamp , tore my hands and face with the briars , and , after an hour of severe fatigue , at last heard my horse , who was impatient at being left alone , neighing loudly . Though my distance to the house was only eighteen miles and the road quite safe , I contrived to lose myself three or four times , till , _ en désespoir _ , I threw the bridle on my horse 's neck , trusting to his instinct to extricate me from my difficulties . It was nearly midnight when I approached the back fences of Mr. Courtenay 's plantation , and I wondered very much at seeing torches glaring in every direction . I galloped rapidly through the lane , and learned from a negro that the family had long returned home , and that supper had been , as usual , served at eight o'clock ; that they had been anxiously waiting for me , and that Mr. Courtenay , fearing some accident had happened , had resolved to go himself in search of me with the major portion of his negroes . Leaving my horse to the care of the slave , I ran towards the house , where the dogs had already announced my arrival . The family came under the portico to welcome me , and simultaneously asked me what could have detained me so long . `` I have caught the robbers , '' replied I , approaching the group , `` I have killed them and lost two dogs ; here are my _ spolia opima _ . ''