midnight
He too knew instinctively that they were upon the threshold of some mighty event . Whatever happened , he could say , if he lived , that he was there , and , if he fell , he would at least die a glorious death . His was the thrill of youth , and it was wholly true . It was two hours past midnight and the ebb tide set in . The good wind was still blowing down the river . Two lanterns went aloft in the rigging of the _ Sutherland _ , and the signal for one of the great adventures of history was given . All the troops had gone into boats earlier in the evening , and now they pulled silently down the stream , Wolfe in one of the foremost .