eleven o'clock
With Monday morning came sunshine and a clear and bracing air . Even Charlie 's face wore a cheerful look , the first that he had put on since arriving in St. Louis , although now and again his heart quaked as he heard the hotel porter 's voice in the hall roaring out the time of departure for the trains that now began to move from the city in all directions . They had studied the railroad advertisements and time-tables to some purpose , and had discovered that they must cross to East St. Louis , on the Illinois side of the Mississippi River , and there take a train for the northern part of the State , where Dixon is situated . But they must first see their Uncle Oscar , borrow the needed money from him , settle with the steamboat people and the hotel , and then get to the railroad station by eleven o'clock in the forenoon . It was a big morning 's work . They were at their uncle 's store before he arrived from his suburban home ; and , while they waited , they whisperingly discussed the question , Who should ask for the money ? Charlie was at first disposed to put this duty on Sandy ; but the other two boys were very sure that it would not look well for the youngest of the party to be the leader on an occasion so important ; and Charlie was appointed spokesman .