midnight
`` And carry off the whiskey ? '' demanded the men , with rueful looks . `` No , we would leave it for your use . '' `` Then long life to yez , and it 's prayers ye shall have for fresh horses without delay '' Pat 's prayers , if indeed he prayed at all , were of but little avail , for the fresh horses did not come along , and we were compelled to remain inactive until near midnight , when we again saddled our animals , and bade our entertainers farewell . When we left , the company was very patriotic , and songs of Ireland 's greatness and England 's outrages were hooted loud enough to awaken every one within a radius of two miles . They gave us three cheers when we left , and one of the party , in the excitement , stumbled over the potato pot , and got a dose of hot water on his person that caused him to utter the most frightful cries , which were responded to by shouts of laughter instead of tears of condolement . `` We have accomplished one humane purpose in giving the men the whiskey , '' Mr. Brown said , as we rode in the direction of Ballarat .