about four o'clock in the afternoon
David shook his head . `` Stole it , '' he answered briefly . Phil , who could see that David was torn with impatience for them to resume their march , ate the fruit and drank the milk without protest . It was about four o'clock in the afternoon , when David spied the `` Water Witch , '' drawn up on the river bank out of the reach of the water . Some unknown force must have led him to Madge 's hiding place in the woods . Afterward he made no explanation either to Phyllis or Madge of his unexpected acquaintance with the man who had kept Madge a prisoner , and neither girl asked him any questions . David managed to get the `` Water Witch '' out into the river with the single oar , and a party of young people in another skiff , seeing their plight , brought them safely home to the houseboat .