nine o'clock
` What time shall we begin , Seth ? ' Rube asked . ` In another hour or so , ' I said ; ` by eight . They will be gambling and quarreling round the fire by nine o'clock ; and the talk , and the noise of the horses , will prevent them hearing anything here . We must not think of going out for two hours later , and even then they wo n't be all asleep ; but we dare not put it off later , for El Zeres may come back earlier than he said he should , and if he does it 's all up with us . Let 's arrange our plans for good , ' I said , ` and then we can each sit up against a corner and pretend to go to sleep . When I am going to cut my cord I will give a very little cough , and then you do the same when you are free .