four o'clock
Ernest was a good bit down-daunted and said he felt cruel sure evil had over-got his uncle , and Amos did n't like it neither , for a more orderly man than Joe Gregory and one more steadfast in doing what he promised could n't easily be found . However , they had to suffer till morning , and Ernest went back to Vitifer , which stood not quarter of a mile away . Morning brought no letter nor yet telegram , so Amos went down to Merripit post office and sent a wire off to the Exeter lawyers axing for news of his brother ; and he waited till an answer came down . It ran like this : _ Mr. Gregory spent an hour with us yesterday and left at four o'clock to catch down train . _ _ Cousins and Slark . _ Well , that showed there was something wrong , and Amos felt he was up against it . He never let the grass grow under his feet , and in twenty minutes he was riding to Ashburton , to catch a train for Exeter .