nearly midnight
The young man smiled , and continued playing ; and as the rude border music floated from the instrument , the Verty of old days came back , and he was once again the forest hunter . The old woman gazed at him with thoughtful affection , and returned his smile . He went on playing , and the long hours of the autumn night went by like birds into the cloudland of the past . When the forest boy ceased playing , it was nearly midnight , and the brands were flickering and dying . Waked by the silence , Longears , who had gone to sleep again , rose up , and came and licked his master 's hand , and whined . Verty caressed his head , and laying down his violin , looked at the old Indian woman with affectionate smiles , and murmured : `` We are happy still , _ ma mere _ ! '' It will be remembered that Mr. Jinks had summed up the probable results of his deep laid schemes that morning when he returned from Mistress O'Calligan 's , in the strong and emphatic word-picture , `` there will be gory blood , sir ! ''