about one o'clock in the morning
The squire saw there was not a moment to lose , so he went back and told his friends the news he had heard . They all said they would stay and help him take the thieves . So the lights were put out , to make it appear as if all the people in the house were in bed , and servants and all kept a close watch both inside and outside . Sure enough , at about one o'clock in the morning the three men came creeping , creeping up to the house with a dark lantern , and the tools to break in with . Before they were aware , six men sprang out on them , and held them fast . The thieves struggled in vain to get away . They were locked in an out-house until daylight , when a cart came and took them off to jail .