nine o'clock
Sooner die . An ' in spite of all that , they bring he-children into the world that ca n't git over a skeeter bite unless they drink a pint or two of whisky . Well , I guess we better go to roost , Mr. Gwynne . Must be nine o'clock . Everything 's all right out at the barn an ' the chicken coops . Wolves an ' foxes an ' weasels visit us sometimes at night , but I got things fixed so 's they go away hungry . In the day time , Eliza 's got an ole musket o ' mine standin ' in the kitchen to skeer the hawks away , an ' I got a rifle in the settin ' room fer whatever varmint comes along at night , -- includin ' hoss-thieves an ' setch-like . ''