midnight
As they planned to start early in the morning again , the entire party retired soon after supper . The wet clothing had been hung on lines about the kitchen , where a servant had built a roaring fire . Although they had to `` double up '' in bed , or sleep on the floor , they were too healthily sleepy to mind such little things , and before ten o'clock every one was asleep . Mrs. Vernon was a very light sleeper , consequently she was aroused a short time after midnight by cries and calls for help . She sprang from the bed and ran to a side window that opened towards the kitchen side of the boarding-house . All she could see was a dull glare that filled the kitchen windows . But she understood .