three o’clock
` I only trust he is not right . I am getting very fearful about my little girl . She must have gone far , or she would be home by now . It is half-past three o'clock . ' I pointed out that she had taken food with her , and very likely would not in the ordinary course of events return till nightfall ; but I myself felt very anxious , and fear that my anxiety betrayed itself . Shortly after this , the people whom Mr Mackenzie had sent out to search for Flossie returned , stating that they had followed the spoor of the donkey for a couple of miles and had then lost it on some stony ground , nor could they discover it again . They had , however , scoured the country far and wide , but without success .