six o'clock
It may be guessed how long that night seemed to us , and with what trembling eagerness we awaited the first signs of breaking day . Directly it was light I took off and unravelled one of my socks . The thread thus obtained I doubled , and having done this , secured one end of it to the note , which I had rolled into a small compass , attaching the other to my captive mouse 's hind leg . Then we set ourselves to wait for six o'clock . The hour came ; and minute after minute went by before we heard in the distance the tapping of the crutches on the stones . Little by little the sound grew louder , and then fainter , and when I judged he was nearly at my back , I stooped and thrust our curious messenger into the pipe . Then we sat down to await the result .