four o'clock in the morning
He called to his boys , took another modest dram , and disappeared in the undergrowth . Teague Poteet and his friends were soon ready to follow this worthy example , so that in another hour Prather 's Mill Road was a very dull and uninteresting place from a revenue point of view . Woodward was aroused during the night by the loud barking of dogs , the tramp of horses , and the confused murmur of suppressed conversation . Looking from the window , he judged by the position of the stars that it was three or four o'clock in the morning . He sat upon the side of the bed , and sought , by listening intently , to penetrate the mystery of this untimely commotion . He thought he recognised the voice of Tip Watson , and he was sure he heard Sid Parmalee 's peculiar cough and chuckle . The conversation soon lifted itself out of the apparent confusion , and became comparatively distinct .