About midnight
Then , taking a board , he put one end upon the hogshead and rested the other end on the ground , where he had placed the noose . He expected that whoever came after the grapes would walk up the board to reach the great clusters which hung overhead , that the hogshead would begin to roll , the board would drop , the noose draw , and the thief would find himself dangling by the heels . It was admirably contrived . About midnight Mr. Leatherby heard the board drop . `` I 've got him ! '' he shouted , springing out of bed , alarming Mrs. Leatherby , who thought he was crazy . He had not told her of the trap .