midnight
His courage gave way when he reflected that the river would rise with the heavy rain which he could hear steadily splashing through the sink-hole , and for a time all prudent men would go by the beaten road and the ford . No one would care to take the short cut and save three miles ' travel at the risk of swimming his horse , for the river was particularly deep just here and spanned only by a footbridge , except , perhaps , some fugitive from justice , or the revenue officers on their hurried , reckless raids . This reminded him of the still-house and of `` dad '' there yet , imbibing whiskey , and sharing the danger of his chosen cronies , the moonshiners . Ben , at home , would not have his anxiety roused till midnight , at least , by his brother 's failure to return from the complicated feat of decoying the drunkard from the distillery . Thad trembled to think what might happen to himself in the interval . If the volume of water pouring down through the sink-hole should increase to any considerable extent , he would be drowned here like a rat . Was he to have his wish , and see his brother never again ?