four o’clock
Refreshed by this , Mahony chased a cat down a lane , but the cat escaped into a wide field . We both felt rather tired and when we reached the field we made at once for a sloping bank over the ridge of which we could see the Dodder . It was too late and we were too tired to carry out our project of visiting the Pigeon House . We had to be home before four o'clock lest our adventure should be discovered . Mahony looked regretfully at his catapult and I had to suggest going home by train before he regained any cheerfulness . The sun went in behind some clouds and left us to our jaded thoughts and the crumbs of our provisions . There was nobody but ourselves in the field .