1 o'clock
`` That 's an hour and a half on the road each way and an hour to stop . I ought to do it in four hours and a half . '' `` Then you should be back by dinner time , '' concluded Rand . `` We will meet you here at 1 o'clock . Which road are you going to take ? '' `` The upper road , '' decided Pepper , `` it runs through the woods , but it 's by far the shortest way . '' With a whistle the boy started off along the thoroughfare at a good pace .