midnight
`` Well , well ! but what was in the paper after all ? Did any body read it ? '' `` Ay , did they -- that is , Christy read it -- none but Christy -- but he would not tell us what was in it -- but said it was no matter , and he 'd not be wasting his time reading an old song -- so we thought no more , and he sent the boy up to the castle with a bill for smith 's work , as soon as we had eat the potatoes , and I thought no more about any thing 's being going wrong , no more than a child ; and in the evening Christy said he must go to the funeral of a neighbour , and should not be home till early in the morning , may be ; and it 's not two hours since he came home and wakened me , and told me where he had been , which was not to the funeral at all , but to the cave where the coat was found ; and he put the coat and the broken head of the pike , and the papers all in the pockets , just as we found it , in the cave -- and the paper was a list of the names of them _ rubbles _ that met there , and a letter telling how they would make Lord Glenthorn their captain , or have his life ; this was what made Christy to try and find out more -- so he hid hisself in a hole in the side of the cave , and built hisself up with rubbish , only just leaving a place for hisself to breathe -- and there he stayed till nightfall ; and then on till midnight , God help us ! so sure enough , them villains all come filling fast into the cave . He had good courage , God bless him for it -- but he always had -- and there he heard and saw all -- and this was how they were talking : -- First , one began by saying , how they must not be delaying longer to show themselves ; they must make a rising in the country -- then named the numbers in other parts that would join , and that they would not be put down so _ asy _ as afore , for they would have good leaders -- then some praised you greatly , and said they was sure you favoured them in your heart , by all the ill-will you got in the county the time of the last ` ruction . But , again , others said you was milk and water , and did not go far enough , and never would , and that it was not in you , and that you was a sleepy man , and not the true thing at all , and neither beef nor _ vael _ .