midnight
`` Her words made us both uncomfortable ; but we had often been engaged in such exploits before the expedition was determined on ; and we couldna , in the presence of the four men that we had engaged to accompany us , abandon it . They were fearless and experienced hands at the trade ; but the new laws on the Borders had reduced them to great privations , and their teeth were watering for the flesh-pots of bygone days , no matter at what risk they were to be obtained . `` It was a delightful moonlight night -- almost as bright as day ; the moon 's brightness put out the stars , and not aboon a dozen were visible , though there wasna half that number of clouds in the whole heavens , and they were just like white sheets , that spirits might be sleeping on in the air ! We proceeded by way of Twisel to Norham , where we crossed the Tweed to Ladykirk ; and as at midnight we passed by the auld kirkyard , I believe I actually put my hands to my ears , lest I should hear the howlets flapping their wings and screaming in the belfry , and turned my face away from it in a sort of apprehension of seeing a spirit , or something waur , upon every grave ; for your mother 's prophecies were uppermost in my mind , in spite of all that I could say or strive to think . And I believe that your uncle 's mind was troubled wi ' the same sort of fears or fancies ; for we were both silent the greater part of the road , and spoke very little to each other . `` However , just about one o'clock , and when the moon was beginning to edge down upon the Lammermuirs , we arrived at an enclosure , in which Cunningham had sixty head of cattle penned . The six of us had but little difficulty in breaking down the gate that opened to the enclosure ; and just as we were beginning to drive out the cattle , a man started up on a sort of tower place that was built upon the wall that surrounded them , and hurled a kind of instrument round his head , that made a noise like a thousand corn-craiks crying together in concert , and trying which would craik loudest and fastest .