nearly nine o'clock
The shepherd was not prepared for the awful scrutiny that gleamed on him from those empty sockets ; his nerves received a shock , and it was some time before he recovered himself sufficiently to speak . `` Now , look a-here , Brummy , '' said he , shaking his finger severely at the delinquent , `` I do n't want to pick a row with yer ; I 'd do as much for yer an ' more than any other man , an ' well yer knows it ; but if yer starts playin ' any of yer jumpt-up pranktical jokes on me , and a-scarin ' of me after a-humpin ' of yer ` ome , by the ` oly frost I 'll kick yer to jim-rags , so I will . '' This admonition delivered , he hoisted Brummy into the chimney-trough , and with a last glance towards the sheep-yards , he retired to his bunk to have , as he said , a snooze . He had more than a snooze , however , for when he woke , it was dark , and the bushman 's instinct told him it must be nearly nine o'clock . He lit a slush-lamp and poured the remainder of the rum into a pannikin ; but , just as he was about to lift the draught to his lips , he heard a peculiar rustling sound overhead , and put the pot down on the table with a slam that spilled some of the precious liquor . Five Bob whimpered , and the old shepherd , though used to the weird and dismal , as one living alone in the bush must necessarily be , felt the icy breath of fear at his heart . He reached hastily for his old shot-gun , and went out to investigate .