four in the afternoon
Again and again did some impatient fellow ask Thad to look at his watch , and tell him how much longer they must wait before the officers might be expected . As the westering sun sank lower and lower , Thad himself began to grow anxious ; and could be noticed listening intently every time the faint breeze picked up ; for it was now coming exactly from the quarter whence the assistance they expected would come . `` There , that was sure an auto horn , tooting ! '' he exclaimed about half-past four in the afternoon . Every one of them listened , and presently sure enough they agreed that it could be nothing else , though the loon out on the lake started his weird cry about that time , as though he considered it a challenge from some rival bird . `` Get aboard , and pull for the shore , Step-hen , '' ordered the scout-master ; and as he had been expecting this , the long-legged scout pushed off . They watched him paddling , and when he had almost reached the spot where Smithy and Bumpus , together with Davy Jones stood , a car came in sight , loaded with some four or five men in blue uniforms ; Giraffe , and another , wearing ordinary clothes .