About eleven o’clock
Thus much at least I , a broken invalid , have done for the common good . Let me now recount what occurred as clearly as I may . The night of Friday , May 3rd , was dark and cloudy -- the very night for the monster to walk . About eleven o'clock I went from the farm-house with my lantern and my rifle , having first left a note upon the table of my bedroom in which I said that , if I were missing , search should be made for me in the direction of the Gap . I made my way to the mouth of the Roman shaft , and , having perched myself among the rocks close to the opening , I shut off my lantern and waited patiently with my loaded rifle ready to my hand . It was a melancholy vigil . All down the winding valley I could see the scattered lights of the farm-houses , and the church clock of Chapel-le-Dale tolling the hours came faintly to my ears .