midnight
`` I do n't propose to have my garage burnt down , with two automobiles worth five thousand dollars , -- not to say anything about the danger to the rest of the place . If I find -- '' Bang ! It was an explosion like a cannon and made everybody jump . As Dave looked , he saw a corner of a distant fence fly apart , and bits of fire seemed to fill the midnight air . Then followed utter silence . -LSB- Illustration : AS DAVE LOOKED , HE SAW A CORNER OF A DISTANT FENCE FLY APART . -RSB- `` The cannon cracker ! ''