midnight
The silly old egotist who ruled Virginia declared that there was no danger from the Indians , and even while the frontiersmen were battling with them for their lives , he wrote to the home government that all trouble with the natives was happily over . When the Virginians assembled , they were without a leader . It was on this occasion that Robert was awakened at night , as we have seen , and asked to arm himself and prepare for a journey . That midnight journey was to Curies where the planters were assembled preparatory to making a descent on the enemy , which they were long to remember . When Robert was informed of the plan , he asked for a moment 's time to confer with his sister , that he might notify her of his departure . He knew the room in which Rebecca slept , and going to her door , tapped lightly until he heard her stirring , and the voice within asked : `` Who are you ? '' `` It is your brother , '' he whispered .