half after three o'clock
This had brought relief , if not conviction . Nevertheless , the old gentleman preferred to abandon his Sunday afternoon nap in favor of watching for Stone . Always , always now since yesterday morning , he found himself listening for hoofbeats -- listening for the returning man of science who would bring a message of caution from the fountain head of Sunlight Patch ; and , in this humor of expectancy , wandered out to the grouped chairs to be alone . At half after three o'clock Brent came softly from the house , mounted his horse and started at a very slow walk around the tanbark circle . During this stealthy advance he watched with affectionate care to see that nothing disturbed the old gentleman , whose chin some time before had sunk peacefully to his breast . Still on the lookout for Stone , still vigilant and faithful to the interest of his mountain friend and guest , the Sunday afternoon nap of many years ' indulgence had crept into his brain to claim its own . For the first two or three miles after he and Jane turned out of Flat Rock their spirited animals were allowed to toss their heads and go for the pure joy of going .