midnight
Come along , Digby , '' exclaimed Julian . Digby descended first at the request of his companion , who wanted to ascertain whether the rope was properly secured before he trusted himself on it ; finding it was safe , he followed . They looked about them as if they had been young thieves , to ascertain that they were not watched , and then crossing the lawn , they scrambled over a high wall , and ran on as hard as they could go towards the old fort . It was close upon midnight when they reached the walls . They clambered in , and having selected a gun which pointed down directly on the harbour , they commenced the operation of loading . `` We must put in the handkerchief and all , '' whispered Julian . This was done , taking care to allow the powder to escape sufficiently at the upper side to communicate with the touch-hole .