ten o'clock
He did not care to cross the well , not knowing what might meet him on the other side ; but here was news to carry back ! He did so ; and his master saw in them the opportunity of indulging his dislike and revenge , and a means of invalidating whatever Clare might reveal to his discredit ! Clare and the baby and Tommy and Abdiel had taken their supper with satisfaction , and were all asleep . It was to them as the middle of the night , though it was but past ten o'clock , when Abdiel all at once jumped right up on his four legs , cocked his ears , listened , leaped off the bed , ran to the door , and began to bark furiously . He was suddenly blinded by the glare of a bull 's - eye-lantern , and received a kick that knocked all the bark out of him , and threw him to the other side of the room . A huge policeman strode quietly in , sending the glare of his bull 's - eye all about the room like a vital , inquiring glance . It discovered , one after the other , every member of the family .