nine o'clock
I 'll tell father to give you the worst flogging ever you had to-night -- see if I do n't ! '' And the boy left to report Bill 's new insolence to his mother . Bill crept up to bed a little earlier than usual . He knew that Mr. Badger would not ascend to his humble room to administer the threatened punishment till nine o'clock or later . Through a refinement of cruelty that humane gentleman chose to let his intended victim lie in an anxious anticipation of the flogging , thus making it assume greater terror . In fact , he probably would not return from the village till nine o'clock or later , and this was an additional reason why he put it off . His absence made it easier for Bill to carry out the plan which had been formed for him by his trusty friend , Dick Schmidt , and escape from the house .