about midnight
Christopher turned down his shirt sleeves and brushed the chaff from his face . `` What do you say about to-night ? '' he inquired , with something like a sneer . `` We could n't go far , of course , and we 'd have to borrow Tom Spade 's hounds -- mine are tired out -- but we might have a short run about midnight , get a ` possum or so , and be in our beds before daybreak . Shall we try it ? '' The boy wavered , struggling between his desire for the chase and his fear of Fletcher . `` Of course , if you 're afraid -- '' added Christopher slowly .