midnight
He walked round the but several times and examined the roof on all sides , but saw nothing . Brummy appeared to be in the same position . At last , persuading himself that the noise was caused by possums or the wind , the old man went inside , boiled his billy , and , after composing his nerves somewhat with a light supper and a meditative smoke , retired for the night . He was aroused several times before midnight by the same mysterious sound overhead , but , though he rose and examined the roof on each occasion by the light of the rising moon , he discovered nothing . At last he determined to sit up and watch until daybreak , and for this purpose took up a position on a log a short distance from the hut , with his gun laid in readiness across his knee . After watching for about an hour , he saw a black object coming over the ridge-pole . He grabbed his gun and fired .