nine o'clock
A glance of artful intelligence came into Nott 's eyes , which had remained blankly staring at Renshaw 's apparently causeless hilarity . Turning to him he winked solemnly . `` That keerless kind o ' hoss-laff jist fetched her , '' he whispered , and vanished before his chagrined companion could reply . When Mr. Nott and his daughter departed Renshaw was not in the ship , neither did he make a spectacular appearance on the wharf as Mr. Nott had fondly expected , nor did he turn up again until after nine o'clock , when he found the old man in the cabin awaiting his return with some agitation . `` A minit ago , '' he said , mysteriously closing the door behind Renshaw , `` I heard a voice in the passage , and goin ' out who should I see agin but that darned furrin nigger ez I told yer ` bout , kinder hidin ' in the dark , his eyes shinin like a catamount , I was jist reachin ' for my weppins when he riz up with a grin and handed me this yer letter . I told him I reckoned you 'd gone to Sacramento , but he said he wez sure you was in your room , and to prove it I went thar . But when I kem back the d -- d skunk had vamoosed -- got frightened I reckon -- and was n't nowhar to be seen . ''