about an hour before noon
A suppressed groan accompanied the exclamation , and my heart ached for him . It must indeed be hard for men -- who are used to carving their own fates and wresting from fortune their desires -- suddenly to be forced to play the woman 's part of patient waiting . The next day brought no relief . From the windowless hut we could see naught of what passed without ; but about an hour before noon we heard a drum beat in the village . The sound grew ever fainter , as though receding ; then came the distant report of musketry , and we grew anxious for our people on the sloop . Hours passed by , and again came the sound of heavy firing , which gradually died away as before . Late in the afternoon we were joined by another prisoner , whom -- from his dress of skins -- we mistook at first sight for a young Indian ; but 't was no other than the lad Poole , who was in Mr. Rivers 's service and most loyally attached to his master .