midnight
Would that the good old times were back again ; when a sackless man could not be shot down at his own door for nothing at all . '' Reverently and carefully John Kenton 's body was borne to the churchyard , where he was laid in the grave beside his much loved wife . No knell was rung : Elmwood , lying far away over the hill side in the narrow wooded valley with the river between it and the camp , had not yet been visited by any of the Royalist army , but a midnight toll might have attracted the attention of some of the lawless stragglers . Nor did anyone feel capable of uttering a prayer aloud , and thus the only sound at that strange sad funeral was the low boom of a midnight gun fired in the beleaguered city . Then Patience with Rusha and the baby were taken home by kind old Goody Grace , while the smith called the two lads into his house . `` One look he cast upon the bier , Dashed from his eye the gathering tear , Then , like the high bred colt when freed First he essays his fire and speed , He vanished -- '' SCOTT . Steadfast was worn and wearied out with grief and slept heavily , knowing at first that his brother was tossing about a good deal , but soon losing all perception , and not waking till on that summer morning the sun had made some progress in the sky .