midnight
`` Jest suits Sylvanus ! '' the various voices responded ; and the Squire went out to the sentries to make the desired change . The lawyer chuckled when he received the new words , and all the other sentinels repeated to themselves the poetic terms `` Eejut and Boy . '' It was just on the stroke of midnight , time to relieve the guards , when the distant sound of pistol shots in rapid succession fell simultaneously on the ears of Coristine , Ben and Sylvanus . The lawyer , stepping hastily to the house , called out the armed inmates , and in another minute or so Nash came galloping up . `` Stay where you are , Squire , with your sentries ; and , you other men , look to your loading and come on with me . I 've been fired at by a waggon load of them . ''