about noon
We then retired to our safe retreat , and thought we might venture to stay for one more night 's provisions without running any danger from our too frequent return to the same place . But in the morning we found our scheme frustrated ; for , on the woman 's going to the closet to get her breakfast , she observed the robbery which we had committed , and exclaimed , ` Some teasing mice have found their way into the closet : I will borrow neighbour Savewell 's trap to-night , and catch some of the little toads ; that I will ! ' After hearing this , it would have been madness to make any further attempts : we therefore agreed to watch for an opportunity , and escape on the very first that offered . Accordingly , about noon , when Mrs. Flood was busily employed in making some pancakes , we slipped by her unobserved , and crept out at the same hole by which we first entered . But no sooner were we in the open road , than we repented our haste , and wished that we had continued where we were till the darkness of the night might better have concealed us from the observation of anyone . We crept as close to the wall of the house -LRB- as far as it reached , which was but a few paces -RRB- as we possibly could , and then stepped into a little ditch , which we were soon obliged to leave again , as the water ran in some parts of it almost up to the edge . At length we reached a little cottage , which we were just entering , when a cat that was sleeping unnoticed by us upon a chair , jumped down , and would certainly have destroyed me -LRB- who happened to go first -RRB- had she not at the same moment tried to catch my brother , and by that means missed her aim , and so given us both an opportunity to escape , which we did by scrambling behind a brick that a child had been playing with by the side of the door .