about eight o'clock
About a week afterwards , O'Brien came to me , and said , `` The new moon 's quartered in with foul weather ; if it holds , prepare for a start . I have put what is necessary in your little haversack ; it may be to-night . Go to bed now , and sleep for a week if you can , for you 'll get but little sleep , if we succeed , for the week to come . '' This was about eight o'clock . I went to bed , and about twelve I was roused by O'Brien , who told me to dress myself carefully , and come down to him in the yard . I did so without disturbing any body , and found the night as dark as pitch -LRB- it was then November -RRB- , and raining in torrents ; the wind was high , howling round the yard , and sweeping in the rain in every direction as it eddied to and fro . It was some time before I could find O'Brien , who was hard at work ; and , as I had already been made acquainted with all his plans , I will now explain them .