midnight
`` I 'm hit hard . '' His friend did as he was directed , but a few minutes later in the midst of his words the big man interrupted : `` There was n't room for all of us here , '' he declared , fiercely . `` I told her that , but she wanted him worse than her own life , so I had to give in . '' They were still talking at midnight , after all but a few loiterers had gone home , when they heard a man 's voice calling from outside . An instant later the front door burst open and a figure appeared ; it was Cochrane , the trader from down-river . `` Here ! Give me a hand ! ''