midnight
The mere fact that peril threatened , so as to compel a night watch , was enough to keep Frank from feeling drowsy . But then he always had a peculiar faculty for controlling his weaknesses . Most other boys would have had to fight desperately to remain awake . He had just counted the strokes as the town clock droned off the midnight hour , and was wondering whether he had not better let Larry sleep until one had arrived , when without the slightest warning there arose the most dreadful racket any one could well imagine . It sounded as though the whole roof might be falling in , what with the clatter of tinpans , the upsetting of chairs and the half muffled shouts that punctuated the entire clamor . And Frank leaped to his feet , believing on the spur of the moment that his trap had been sprung ! `` What is it , Frank ? ''