About
three o'clock
He had seen Xavier leave the other camp before dark ; and he guessed the breed youth had been told off to watch them . From what he had observed of the incontinuity of the breed mind in any given direction , he strongly suspected if they kept still throughout the first part of the night Xavier would fall asleep before morning . He had a little plan in his mind , which he did not confide to Natalie . About three o'clock , therefore , he called Natalie to bar the door after him ; and he sallied forth , concealing from her that he carried a coil of light rope . He was gone more than an hour , of which every minute was an age to poor Natalie crouching over the fire and straining her ears . She had successively pictured every possible accident that might have befallen him , before her heart leaped at the sound of his signal at the door . Garth was for sending her back to bed forthwith , but Natalie apprehended he had not been gone so long for nothing ; and presently she heard him stand two guns in the corner .