midnight
he exclaimed , as he got ready to turn in , not having awakened the rest of the household , `` when the burglar alarm goes off , if it does , it will also start the searchlight , and I 'll get a view of who the chicken thief is . I 'll also get some pictures . '' Then , thinking over the events of the evening , and wondering if he would succeed in his fight with the smugglers , providing he undertook it , Tom fell asleep . It must have been some time after midnight that he was awakened by the violent ringing of a bell at his ear . At first he thought it was the call to breakfast , and he leaped from bed crying out : `` Yes , Mrs. Baggert , I 'm coming ! '' A moment later he realized what it was . `` The burglar alarm ! ''