ten o'clock
Oh , I 'd rather be on the farm than go to heaven ! '' They had brought their supper with them , and leaving the others to watch the fires , and see that the grass did not tempt the flames to the edge of the wood , Hiram cast bait into the river and , in an hour , drew out enough mullet and `` bull-heads '' to satisfy them all , when they were broiled over the hot coals of the first bonfire to be lighted . They ate with much enjoyment . Between nine and ten o'clock the fires had all burned down to coals . A circle of burned-over grass and rubbish surrounded each fire . There seemed no possibility that the flames could spread to the mat of dry leaves on the side hill . So they went home , a lantern guiding their feet over the rough path through the timber , stopping at the spring for a long , thirst-quenching draught .