nearly ten o'clock
After considering Has-se 's proposal all the morning , Réné finally decided to accept it , and , without notifying any person in the fort of his intention , to accompany the young Indian to the land of the Alachuas . In accordance with this plan he gathered together a number of trinkets , such as he knew would be acceptable to the Indians , and during the afternoon he conveyed these to the forest beyond the fort , where he bound them into a compact package and carefully hid them . Réné could not account , any more than the others , for Has-se 's disappearance , nor imagine how his escape had been effected ; but he felt certain that the young Indian would be true to his word , and await his coming at the appointed place of meeting when the moon rose above the pine-tree tops . As it would not rise until nearly ten o'clock that evening , and as his uncle retired early on account of his indisposition , Réné was able to bid him an affectionate good-night and receive his customary blessing without arousing any suspicion of his intended departure in the breast of the old soldier . Leaving his own quarters about nine o'clock , with his cross-bow over his shoulder , Réné walked with an unconcerned air , but with a beating heart , directly to the main gate of the fort , at which he was challenged by the sentinel on duty there . Réné gave the countersign , and was recognized by the soldier , who , however , firmly refused to allow him to pass . He said , `` I am sorry to be obliged to interrupt thy walk , Master De Veaux ; but since the escape of the Indian prisoner last night , we have received strictest orders not to allow a living soul to pass the gates between sunset and sunrise . ''