midnight
The door being now secured , Henderson and his wife returned without further colloquy into the house ; and shortly after , it being now late , retired to bed . In the meantime , the storm continued to rage with unabated violence . The rush of the wind amongst the trees was deafening ; and at first faintly , but gradually waxing louder , as the stream swelled with the descending deluge of rain , came the hoarse voice of the adjoining river on the blast as it boiled and raged along . Henderson had been in bed about an hour -- it was now midnight -- but had been kept awake by the tremendous sounds of the tempest , when , gently jogging his slumbering helpmate -- `` Goodwife , '' he said , `` listen a moment . Do n't you hear the voice of some one shouting without ? '' They now both listened intently ; and loudly as the storm roared , soon distinguished the tramp of horses ' feet approaching the house . In the next moment , a rapid succession of thundering strokes on the door , as if from the butt end of a heavy whip , accompanied by the exclamations of -- `` Ho !