a quarter to nine
At sunset we bought crackers and cheese for our supper . Ned and the two Murch boys were now of our party , but Thomas and Catherine had gone home . We were but slightly repaid for waiting till evening , however ; only six rockets , five Roman candles and two `` pin-wheels '' were burned in the way of fireworks . It was very soon over , although we had been obliged to wait until a quarter to nine for the exhibition to begin . Boy-like , however , we would not have missed it for a great deal . Then came the long ride homeward in the dark , for the night proved cloudy ; but the events of the day furnished us a great deal to talk of , as old Sol plodded onward , -- and there was more to follow . We had gone about half way home , and were passing a partly wooded tract on the upper or west side of the highway , when Willis suddenly said , `` What 's that thing , hanging down from that tree over the road ? ''