eight o’clock
After a time they were joined by another gentleman , masked like the first , who added new arguments to those which had been already urged ; the wretched wife , too , added her tears and prayers to their calmer representations ; and in the end , Will , moved by compassion and good-nature , by a love of the marvellous , by a mischievous anticipation of the terrors of the Kingston people when he should be missing next day , and finally , by the prospect of gain , took upon himself the task , and devoted all his energies to its successful execution . The following night , when it was quite dark , the hollow echoes of old London Bridge responded to the rumbling of the cart which contained the ghastly load , the object of Will Marks ' care . Sufficiently disguised to attract no attention by his garb , Will walked at the horse 's head , as unconcerned as a man could be who was sensible that he had now arrived at the most dangerous part of his undertaking , but full of boldness and confidence . It was now eight o'clock . After nine , none could walk the streets without danger of their lives , and even at this hour , robberies and murder were of no uncommon occurrence . The shops upon the bridge were all closed ; the low wooden arches thrown across the way were like so many black pits , in every one of which ill-favoured fellows lurked in knots of three or four ; some standing upright against the wall , lying in wait ; others skulking in gateways , and thrusting out their uncombed heads and scowling eyes : others crossing and recrossing , and constantly jostling both horse and man to provoke a quarrel ; others stealing away and summoning their companions in a low whistle . Once , even in that short passage , there was the noise of scuffling and the clash of swords behind him , but Will , who knew the City and its ways , kept straight on and scarcely turned his head .