six o'clock
If Zulma had followed her own impulses , she would have accompanied her brother and friend till she had seen them safe within the walls , but she was obliged to renounce this pleasure in consideration of her aged father . Batoche declined a seat in either sleigh . He returned on snow-shoes as he had gone ; and so fleet was his march through the by-ways and short paths of the country which he knew so well , that he reached the appointed destination ahead of the party . It was after six o'clock , and the dawn was just breaking when the sleighs came within sight of the gates . Cary Singleton approached as near as he durst , when he stopped to take leave of his fair charge . Batoche walked directly up to the sentry , where , after a brief parley , he returned , accompanied by a single man . `` Pauline ! ''