about
midnight
The man had deserted the same night , and was never heard of again . The idea at once got abroad that it was he who had released the prisoners in order to spite the Ruby King , and had guided them out of the country . Then , on the third night , the luck of the Haydons came to an end , and their hiding-place was hit upon in a very odd fashion , a fashion which could not have been foreseen or guarded against . It was about midnight , and Jack had the watch , for one or other stood on guard all the time . He sat with his back against a great post which ran from ground to ridge-pole , and , without the least warning , he felt that it was shaking very slightly . In an instant Jack was on the alert . He could not hear the faintest sound , but the post still trembled , and Jack felt certain that something or someone was climbing up it .