nearly one
o'clock
The man 's mood grew darker while he mused . He served the meal on the rude box which took the place of table , and still his companion did not come . Ho looked at his watch . It was nearly one o'clock , and yet there was no sign of the sturdy figure of Anson . The house of the poor Norwegian was about two miles away , and out of sight , being built in a gully ; but now the eye could distinguish a house only when less than a mile away . A man could not at times be seen at a distance of ten rods , though occasional lulls in the wind permitted Bert to see nearly to the `` First Moccasin . '' `` He may be in the swale , '' muttered the watcher as he stood with his eye to the loop-hole .