eight o'clock
Tom was full of eagerness . I was in a feverish state of mind all day , especially as night drew on . If I had not been ashamed to fail Tom , I think I should have backed out . At eight o'clock I pretended to start for bed ; then , stealing out at the back door , I hurried across the fields to the Edwards place . A new moon was shining faintly over the woods in the west . Tom was in the wood-house , loading the gun , an old army rifle , bored out for shot . `` I 've got in six fingers of powder , '' he whispered .