nine o'clock
It might well be that , in their anger , they might slay the ladies , also . '' `` That would be like enough , Roger . However , there can be no chance of their coming here , before it is dark . '' At nine o'clock they started , and made their way down , with some difficulty and many slips and falls , into the valley . Then they kept along near the river , till Oswald was sure they were close to the ford . He bade them halt here , and went forward alone . Before he had gone fifty yards , he nearly stumbled against a man .