about midnight
`` Never mind , '' said Amyas , who suspected some plot on the old man 's part . `` He 'll take care of himself , I 'll warrant him . '' `` No fear of that , sir ; '' and the four tars were soon snoring in concert round the fire , while Amyas laid himself on the settle , with his saddle for a pillow . * * * * * It was about midnight , when Amyas leaped to his feet , or rather fell upon his back , upsetting saddle , settle , and finally , table , under the notion that ten thousand flying dragons were bursting in the window close to his ear , with howls most fierce and fell . The flying dragons past , however , being only a flock of terror-stricken geese , which flew flapping and screaming round the corner of the house ; but the noise which had startled them did not pass ; and another minute made it evident that a sharp fight was going on in the courtyard , and that Yeo was hallooing lustily for help . Out turned the men , sword in hand , burst the back door open , stumbling over pails and pitchers , and into the courtyard , where Yeo , his back against the stable-door , was holding his own manfully with sword and buckler against a dozen men . Dire and manifold was the screaming ; geese screamed , chickens screamed , pigs screamed , donkeys screamed , Mary screamed from an upper window ; and to complete the chorus , a flock of plovers , attracted by the noise , wheeled round and round overhead , and added their screams also to that Dutch concert .