nine o'clock
The rooster and his kidnapped hen flew up from the steps and pecked at the door panels vigorously . Seven o'clock in the evening came , then eight , and no light to be seen anywhere . The dog howled ; the horse neighed ; the cow lowed ominously in the closed barn . At nine o'clock Amanda took a lantern and sped across the field , found a pail in the shed , slipped into the barn , milked the cow , gave the beasts hay and water , and leaving the pail of milk on the steps , went quietly home again , anxious lest she had done too much , anxious also lest she had not done enough . Next morning she stationed herself at her kitchen window and took account of her signs . The milk-pail was overturned on the steps , the rooster and hen perching on the rim , but there was no smoke coming from the chimney . She thought quickly as she did everything else .