about two o'clock in the
morning
It was now the second week of March , and up to this time the weather had continued cold ; but a thaw set in , with rain for two or three days , the temperature rising to sixty degrees , and even higher . On the third night of the thaw , or rather , in the early morning , a great commotion broke out at the west barn . It waked the girls first , their room being on that side of the farmhouse . At about two o'clock in the morning Ellen came to our door to rouse Addison and me . `` There 's a fearful racket up at the west barn , '' she said , in low tones . `` You had better see what 's wrong . '' Addison and I threw on our clothes , went down quietly , so as not to disturb the old Squire , and were getting our lanterns ready , when he came from his room ; for he , too , had heard the disturbance .