midnight
It tickles up all the nerves . So Tertius took his rifle and smote the others on the head to keep them quiet at the loopholes . The dear children wanted to open the gate and go in at 'em generally , but that did n't suit our book . `` At last , near midnight , I heard the wop , wop , wop , of Stalky 's Martinis across the valley , and some general cursing among the Malots , whose main body was hid from us by a fold in the hillside . Stalky was brownin ' 'em at a great rate , and very naturally they turned half right and began to blaze at their faithless allies , the Khye-Kheens -- regular volley firin ' . In less than ten minutes after Stalky opened the diversion they were going it hammer and tongs , both sides the valley . When we could see , the valley was rather a mixed-up affair .