nearly eleven o’clock
`` Like a man , do you say ! '' ejaculated Larry . `` Faith and you flatter that fat-head ! '' It was nearly eleven o'clock when the attacking party returned after a parley on the ice beyond the boat-house . The four of us were on the terrace ready for them . They came smartly through the wood , the sheriff and Morgan slightly in advance of the others . I expected them to slacken their pace when they came to the open meadow , but they broke into a quick trot at the water-tower and came toward the house as steady as veteran campaigners .