About nine o'clock
There was no news . Mr. Loudon and his friends were still absent . Poor Kate was in despair , and could not touch the breakfast , which was prepared at the usual hour . About nine o'clock a company of negro sumac gatherers appeared on the road which passed Mr. Loudon 's house . It was a curious party . On a rude cart , drawn by two little oxen , was a pile of bags filled with sumac-leaves , which were supported by poles stuck around the cart and bound together by ropes . On the top of the pile sat a negro , plying a long whip and shouting to the oxen .