about eight o'clock
Quick as lightning he went from covert to covert ; but the conspiracy had been well arranged , and a holiday for the foxes in County Galway was established for that day . Some men were very stanch to him , going with him whither they knew not , so that `` poor dear Tom '' might not be left alone ; but alone he was during the long evening of that day , as far as all conversation went . He spoke to no one , except to Barney , and to him only a few words ; giving him a direction as to where he should go next , and into what covert he should put the hounds . They , too , must have been much surprised and very weary , as they dragged their tired limbs to their kennel , at about eight o'clock . And Tom Daly 's ride across the country will long be remembered , and the exertions which he made to find a fox on that day . But it was all in vain . As Tom ate his solitary mutton-chop , and drank his cold whisky and water , and then took himself to bed , he was a melancholy man .