ten minutes to three
He had decorated his cabin walls with ground pine and evergreen , and as a last touch had , with many chuckles , suspended from the ceiling an unusually perfect piece of mistletoe , which he had tramped into Oakdale early that morning to secure . He had cleaned his rifle first , then swept and scrubbed his cabin floor , and the pine table off which he ate , until the most critical housekeeper could have found no fault with the shining cleanliness of the place . The rousing fire that he built in the big fireplace soon dried the floor , and after arranging his few household effects to the best advantage , Jean busied himself with getting in a good supply of wood before his young guests , who had set the hour of three o'clock for their arrival , should appear upon the scene . It was precisely ten minutes to three when the little company reached the top of the hill at the foot of which nestled old Jean 's cottage , and halted for a moment before descending . `` Sound the call of the Elf 's Horn , Tom , '' demanded Grace . `` I only wish I could sound it . I 've tried over and over again , but I ca n't do it . ''