midnight
Jack 's eyes sparkled . He was always proud of his chum 's clever reasoning powers , and believed Tom could hold his own with any one with regard to mapping out a promising plan . Their preparations completed , the two air service boys lay down to secure a little rest . As they were not to start until some time after midnight , Tom believed they should secure a few hours of sleep . The moon was a late one , and would not rise , even with a midnight start , until they were well back of the enemy lines . An alarm-clock aroused them at the appointed time . Tom immediately shoved the noisy thing under his blankets before it could wake up the entire house , and set people wondering what was happening that any one should want to be aroused at such an unseemly hour .