about nine
o'clock
Tad remained by the stream until he heard the supper call , whereupon he rose slowly and picked his way over the rocks to where the others had assembled about the table in the gathering twilight . The boy 's appetite , however , had not been affected by the experience through which he had passed that afternoon , and he stowed away a hearty meal , after which the evening was spent in listening to stories of the chase related by Lige Thomas . There being still no sign of Ben Tackers on the following morning , a visit to the cave was decided upon . They reached the place about nine o'clock , guided by Tad , who took them to the hole in the rock at once . `` I guess you boys had better fix up some torches , '' directed Lige . `` Sometimes there are holes within holes , in these mountains , and we do n't want to take a sudden drop down a hundred feet or so . Three torches will be enough to light .