about the hour of
three o'clock
Well , well -- I 'll hang it up again ; so good night , an ' a sound sleep to you , an ' to every man that has a free conscience in the sight of God ! '' No response was given to this prayer , and his words were followed by a deep and solemn silence , that was only broken occasionally by the heavy pattering of the descending rain , and the fitful gusts of the blast , as they rushed against the house , and sung wildly among the few trees by which it and the garden were enclosed . Every one knows that a night of wind and storm , if not rising actually to a tempest or hurricane , is precisely that on which sleep is with its deepest influence upon men . Sullivan 's family , on that which we are describing , were a proof of this ; at least until about the hour of three o'clock , when they were startled by a cry for help , so loud and frightful , that in a moment he and the boys huddled on their dress , and hurried to the bed in which the prophet lay . In a minute or two they got a candle lit ; and truly the appearance of the man was calculated to drive fear and alarm into their hearts . They found him sitting in the bed , with his eyes so wild and staring that they seemed straining out of their sockets . His hair was erect , and his mouth half open , and drawn back ; while the perspiration poured from him in torrents .