ten o'clock
He had hired a car and stocked it with provisions , tents , and bedding . He hastened off and returned with the chauffeur to the door . Beth , in the costume she had worn on the day when Van found her lost in the desert , made a shy , frightened youth , when at length she appeared , but her courage was superb . At ten o'clock they left the town , and rolled far out to the westward on their course . Van learned of their departure . He was certain that Beth had gone to the `` Laughing Water '' claim , perhaps to be married to Bostwick . Three times he went to the hay-yard that day , intent upon saddling his broncho , riding to the claim himself , and fighting out his rights by the methods of primitive man .