nine o'clock
Captain Wharton , my duty will not suffer me to grant you a parole -- you must accompany me to the Highlands . '' _ IV . -- Justice by Evasion _ The Wharton family , by order of Washington , now removed to the Highlands , out of the region of warlike operations , and Captain Wharton was brought to trial . The court condemned him to execution as a spy before nine o'clock on the morning following the trial , the president , however , expressing his intention of riding to Washington 's headquarters and urging a remission of the punishment . But the sentence of the court was returned -- _ approved _ . All seemed lost . `` Why not apply to Mr. Harper ? ''