midnight
All his nervousness vanished . `` No one knows the comfort of a dog 's company , '' he said , `` who does not love a dog ? '' Then he bathed his face and head and went to sleep . It was after midnight when Jack Bracken led Captain Tom in and put him to bed . `` A close shave for you , Cap'n Tom , '' he said -- `` I struck just in time . I 'll not leave you another night with the door unlocked . '' Then : `` But poor fellow -- how can we blame him for wandering off , after all those years , and trying to get back again to his boyhood home . ''