midnight
He was always ready for either a fight or a frolic , but had more mischief than ill-will in his composition ; and with all his overbearing roughness there was a strong dash of waggish good-humor at bottom . He had three or four boon companions who regarded him as their model , and at the head of whom he scoured the country , attending every scene of feud or merriment for miles around . In cold weather he was distinguished by a fur cap surmounted with a flaunting fox 's tail ; and when the folks at a country gathering descried this well-known crest at a distance , whisking about among a squad of hard riders , they always stood by for a squall . Sometimes his crew would be heard dashing along past the farm-houses at midnight with whoop and halloo , like a troop of Don Cossacks , and the old dames , startled out of their sleep , would listen for a moment till the hurry-scurry had clattered by , and then exclaim , `` Ay , there goes Brom Bones and his gang ! '' The neighbors looked upon him with a mixture of awe , admiration , and good-will , and when any madcap prank or rustic brawl occurred in the vicinity always shook their heads and warranted Brom Bones was at the bottom of it . This rantipole hero had for some time singled out the blooming Katrina for the object of his uncouth gallantries , and , though his amorous toyings were something like the gentle caresses and endearments of a bear , yet it was whispered that she did not altogether discourage his hopes . Certain it is , his advances were signals for rival candidates to retire who felt no inclination to cross a line in his amours ; insomuch , that when his horse was seen tied to Van Tassel 's paling on a Sunday night , a sure sign that his master was courting -- or , as it is termed , `` sparking '' -- within , all other suitors passed by in despair and carried the war into other quarters .