nine o'clock
It was a tedious day , confined as they were , and the time passed slowly . But dusk descended at last . `` He should be here at any time now , '' said Frank . The others said nothing , but when nine o'clock had come and gone even Frank became uneasy . `` Do n't see what is detaining him , '' he said . `` Nor I -- if he really meant to come back , '' said Jack . Eleven o'clock and still their captor had not returned .