midnight
Indeed , Ossaroo was able to set their minds at rest on this point -- assuring them that two animals of the kind are never found occupying the same district : since two creatures of such malignant dispositions would certainly enact the tragedy of the Kilkenny cats -- though Ossaroo did not illustrate his meaning by quoting this celebrated expression . Possibly there might be other animals in the neighbourhood as much to be dreaded as the elephant had been . There might be panthers , or leopards , or tigers , or even another bear ; but against any of these the cave would be no safe asylum -- not safer than their old hut . They could reconstruct it more strongly than ever ; and put a stout door upon it to keep out any midnight intruder ; and to this work did they apply themselves as soon as they had eaten dinner , and dried their garments -- so thoroughly saturated by the colossal syringe of the defunct elephant . Several days were spent in restoring the hovel -- this time with considerable improvements . The winter weather had now fairly set in ; and household warmth had become an important object : so that not only did they fill up the chinks with a thick coating of clay , but a fireplace and chimney were constructed , and a strong door was added . They knew that it would take them a long time to make the ladders -- more than a dozen long ladders -- each of which must be light as a reed and straight as an arrow .