one o'clock before
Then Leon came in and showed us , and every one wanted to work the dumb-bell , even mother . Leon marched around and showed off ; he looked `` See the conquering hero comes , '' all over . I never felt worse about being made into a girl than I did that night . I could n't sleep for excitement , and mother said I might as well , for it would be at least one o'clock before they would round-up in our meadow below the barn . All the neighbours were to shut up their stock , tie their dogs , or lead them with chains , if they took them , so when the foxes were surrounded , they could catch them alive , and save their skins . I wondered how some of those chasing people , even Laddie , Leon , and father -- think of that ! father was going too -- I wondered how they would have liked to have had something as much bigger than they were , as they were bigger than the foxes , chase them with awful noises , guns and dogs , and catch them alive -- to save their skins .