nine o'clock
He was eager enough to see that the boys were well hidden , and before he climbed down the ladder he piled bundle after bundle upon them , as if preferring that they should be smothered rather than discovered by the dreaded Boches . That was a tiring day , a hungry , thirsty day , but the boys lay as still as mice . From where they lay they could see a sufficient number of Germans passing and repassing along the road and across the bridge to hourly remind them of the necessity of keeping close cover . At night , before nine o'clock , they climbed down from their hiding-place , went to the edge of the river , undressed , and waded out neck-deep . Dicky stepped on a stone that rolled over and in righting himself splashed about once or twice . In a moment a deep voice could be heard from the opposite bank , growling out , _ `` Was ist das ? '' _ The boys kept perfectly still , and heard the German call out for someone to come .