midnight
It was some minutes before Isaac Brown could trust himself to do anything but pat the sleek old head that was always ready to his hand . `` He must have overheard us talkin ' ; I guess he 'd have come if he 'd dropped dead half-way , '' proclaimed John Henry , like a prince of the reigning house ; and Rover wagged his tail as if in honest assent , as he lay at his master 's side . They sat together , while the fire was brightened again to make a good light for the coon-hunt supper ; and Rover had a good half of everything that found its way into his master 's hand . It was toward midnight when the triumphal procession set forth toward home , with the two lanterns , across the fields . The next morning was bright and warm after the hard frost of the night before . Old Rover was asleep on the doorstep in the sun , and his master stood in the yard , and saw neighbor Price come along the road in her best array , with a gay holiday air . `` Well , now , '' she said eagerly , `` you wa 'n' t out very late last night , was you ?