midnight
They accordingly went forthwith to Captain Crawford and proffered to him their service ; and he was gladdened that my grandfather had come to so warlike a purpose ; but he looked sharply at the bailie , and twice smiled to my grandfather , as if in doubt of his soldiership , saying , `` But , Gilhaize , since you recommend him , he must be a good man and true . '' So the same night they set out at dusk , with a chosen troop and band of not more than two hundred men . A boat , provided with ladders , dropped down the river with the tide , to be before them . By midnight the expedition reached the bottom of Dumbuckhill , where , having ascertained that the boat was arrived , Jordanhill directed those aboard to keep her close in with the shore , and move with their march . The evening when they left Glasgow was bright and calm , and the moon , in her first quarter , shed her beautiful glory on mountain and tower and tree , leading them as with the light of a heavenly torch ; and when they reached the skirts of the river , it was soon manifest that their enterprise was favoured from on high . The moon was by that time set , and a thick mist came rolling from the Clyde and the Leven , and made the night air dim as well as dark , veiling their movements from all mortal eyes . Jordanhill 's guide led them to a part of the rock which was seldom guarded , and showed them where to place their ladders .