ten o'clock
The eldest and the youngest brothers were stretched , still dressed , on their beds in the attic . The house was noiseless , and dark everywhere except in the sitting-room . There , on the high clock-shelf , the same tall lamp that , nearly seven and a half years before , had burned like a beacon and lighted the coming of the stork , now , turned low , shone upon the faithful biggest brother and the suffering little girl . Shortly after ten o'clock an interruption came to the silence . A gentle knocking was heard at the hall door , and , on going out , the neighbor woman found a cattleman who had recently moved into the Territory from northern Texas standing on the stone step . Having heard that morning from the Swede boy that the little girl was dangerously ill , he had ridden down to proffer the services of himself and his swift horse Sultan . And when the neighbor woman told him that there was small hope of the little girl 's recovery , he stabled his animal , and prepared to remain all night .