midnight
`` It 's like looking for a needle in that proverbial haystack , '' struck in Peggy . `` In my opinion we need the patience of Job and the years of old Methuselah , '' opined Jimsy . Roy alone was not discouraged . `` It ca n't be so very far off , '' he urged ; `` it stands to reason that they ca n't have come much further than this since midnight , supposing the machine to have been stolen about that hour . '' The others agreed with him . `` We 'll search all around here , including those woods , '' declared Peggy . `` Well , they ca n't have taken it very far into the woods , '' declared Jimsy ; `` the spread of its wings would prevent that . ''