ten o'clock
whar 's the fire ? '' was heard echoing from all sides . -- Robin , quite unconscious that he alone was the cause of the alarm , still went along beating the dreadful summons . I heard the noise and rose ; but while I was drawing on my stockings , in the chair at the bed-head , and telling Mrs Pawkie to compose herself , for our houses were all insured , I suddenly recollected that Robin had the night before neglected to go his rounds at ten o'clock as usual , and the thought came into my head that the alarm might be one of his inebriated mistakes ; so , instead of dressing myself any further , I went to the window , and looked out through the glass , without opening it , for , being in my night clothes , I was afraid of taking cold . The street was as throng as on a market day , and every face in the moonlight was pale with fear . -- Men and lads were running with their coats , and carrying their breeches in their hands ; wives and maidens were all asking questions at one another , and even lasses were fleeing to and fro , like water nymphs with urns , having stoups and pails in their hands . -- There was swearing and tearing of men , hoarse with the rage of impatience , at the tolbooth , getting out the fire-engine from its stance under the stair ; and loud and terrible afar off , and over all , came the peal of alarm from drunken Robin 's drum .