noon
But the little girl , before going back to hers , remained behind a moment to look for the cowbird . At last she spied him , perched high up on the elbow of the stovepipe . He was trembling violently , and his glossy , black feathers were standing out -- straight on end . The neighbor woman , who dropped in that noon , made a suggestion that the big brothers decided to act upon . She declared that the kitchen visitor was a milk-snake , and that one night spent on the watch without a light would prove her correct . So that very evening , the eldest brother , wrapped in a buffalo robe and a pair of blankets , sat on a bench behind the kitchen door , resolved to keep awake till morning in wait for the mysterious disturber . The rest of the family prepared for bed , after providing him with the musket , powder and buck-shot , and the clothes-stick ; and on looking in upon him before retiring , found him sitting grimly in his corner , the musket leaning against one shoulder , while upon the other perched the cowbird .