midnight
Now I offer no excuse for what I did . I could have opened that window and let myself out some distance ahead of the bottle , without involving Louis and his gang in greater mischief . What I did was not out of spite to the governor of a rival company ; but mischief , as I said , was in the very air . Besides , the knaves had delayed me far into midnight , and I had no scruples about giving each twenty-four hours in the fort guardroom . I took a precautionary inspection of the window-sash . Yes , I was sure I could leap through , carrying out sash and all . `` Hurry -- ol' tombshtone -- governor -- sh-comin ' , '' urged Louis .