midnight
But they never tasted their dram ; Davie was the renowned wrestler of the neighborhood , and in a second or two he had tripped up both men and had made off for some secret hiding-place in the hills before the party inside , aroused by the cries of the sentinels , were able to understand what had happened . Both the unfortunate soldiers had been so badly bruised by their fall on the flagstones near the doorway that they were unable to rise without help . At another time he was still more successful . The revenue officers and their escort surprised his house at midnight , and demanded admission in the King 's name . Old Jeandy , his mother , who was then alive , made as much difficulty as possible in getting the door open in order to give Davie time to conceal himself . But he did better than hide in the house . Springing out of bed , he actually broke a hole through the `` divets '' or turfs of the thatch , and creeping through it , climbed down outside , just as his adversaries , certain of capturing their prize , were mounting the ladder which led to his bed-chamber .