one o'clock
Joe was therefore a man who could not be easily frightened ; yet Joe trembled in his shoes when he had the most distant prospect of meeting with a ghost ! There was no help for it , however . He had been appointed to watch the ruin ; and , being a man who cherished a strong sense of duty , he set himself doggedly to make the most of his circumstances . It was past one o'clock when the fire was finally extinguished . A few night-birds and late revellers still hung about it , as if in the hope that it would burst forth again , and afford them fresh excitement ; but before two o'clock , everyone had gone away , and Joe was left alone with his `` preventer '' and lantern . Even the policeman on the beat appeared to avoid him ; for , although he passed the ruin at regular intervals in his rounds , he did not stop at it beyond a few moments , to see that the fireman 's lantern was burning and all right . `` Corney , me lad , '' said Joe to himself , `` it 's bad luck has befallen ye this night ; but face yer luck like a man now , and shame it . ''