about eight o'clock
responded the grandmother , `` but that is fearfu ' ! -- these are indeed fearfu ' times ; there is naebody sure o ' their lives for half-an-hour thegither , wha doesna gae to hear the fushionless curates ! '' At this instant , one of the dragoons drew up his horse at the door , asking if a man , such as he described , with a blue bonnet and a grey duffle coat , had returned late last night , or rather this morning , to bed . Old Tibby answered , in a quavering voice , that the man mentioned had left her house about eight o'clock , and had not yet returned . The dragoon appeared somewhat incredulous ; and , giving his horse to the girl to hold , he dashed at once and boldly into the room , where the three persons already mentioned were seated . The young farmers questioned immediately the propriety of his conduct ; but he drew his sword , and swore that he would make cats ' meat of the first that should lay hold upon him . He had no sooner said so , than a man sprang upon him from the fireside , and , striking his sword-arm down with the poker , immediately secured his person by such means as the place and time presented .