four o'clock in the evening
Mrs. Weldon , wholly occupied with her little Jack , did not perhaps feel the fatigue , but her strength was exhausted . All , more or less , were tired . Dick Sand , resisted by a supreme moral energy , caused by the sentiment of duty . Toward four o'clock in the evening , old Tom found , in the grass , an object which attracted his attention . It was an arm , a kind of knife , of a particular shape , formed of a large , curved blade , set in a square , ivory handle , rather roughly ornamented . Tom carried this knife to Dick Sand , who took it , examined it , and , finally , showed it to the American , saying : `` No doubt the natives are not very far off . '' `` That is so , '' replied Harris , `` and meanwhile -- '' `` Meanwhile ? ''