about eight o'clock
It was doubtless one of those hallucinations that are so common in the woods . Bears had not been plentiful in the region for several years , so at first the story was discredited . About a week later Grandpa Hezekiah Butterfield , one of the old men of the village , went about a mile into the country to a farmhouse to take supper with an old crony and to talk over old times . As is usual when two grandpas get to talking over old times , Grandpa Butterfield stayed much later than he intended , starting for home at about eight o'clock . But when he went , he felt well repaid for his visit , because he had completely out-talked his companion and moreover was carrying back a present of five pounds of honey , which , as the old man had a sweet tooth , the only tooth he had , was most acceptable . Just after leaving the farmhouse , the way led through a deep woods which overhung the road , making it quite dark in places . It happened that on this same evening Black Bruin went forth on one of his nightly prowls .