nine o'clock
`` Thank you , '' John Morris answered . `` I 'm going to get the Wilson boys , and Rountree and Mitchell , '' and for the first time the men 's eyes met . Determined , deadly , sombre , was the look exchanged ; then Morris went away . None of the men whom Morris summoned said much , nor did they take long to arm themselves , saddle , and mount , and by nine o'clock Aggie heard them come galloping across the field ; then her master 's voice calling her . There was little time in which to make the signal-fire on the railroad embankment , and to cut light-wood into torches , even though there were many hands to do the work . John Morris 's dog followed him a part of the way to the wood-pile , then turned aside to where the water had crept up from the swamp into the yard . Aggie saw the dog , and spoke to Mr. Morris .