midnight
Finding him thus obstinate , the Commodore good humouredly called him a silly , wilful , fellow , and bade him have his own way ; however he felt confident that , if he accompanied the Miami expedition in his then state of health , he never would return from it . Gerald admitted it was probable enough he should not , but , although he deeply felt the kindness of his Commander 's motive in wishing him to remain , he was not the less determined , since the matter was left to his own choice , to go where his duty led him . Then , promising to be back long before the hour fixed for sailing the ensuing day , he warmly pressed the cordially extended hand , and soon afterwards , accompanied by Sambo , whose skill as a rider was in no way inferior to his dexterity as a steersman , mounted a favorite horse , and was soon far on his road to Detroit . Towards midnight of that day , two men were observed by the American tanner , to enter by the gate that led into the grounds of the cottage , and , after lingering for a few moments , near the graves to which tradition had attached so much of the marvellous , to disappear round the angle of the building into the court behind . Curiosity induced him to follow and watch their movements , and , although he could not refrain from turning his head at least a dozen times , as if expecting at each moment to encounter some dread inhabitant of the tomb , he at length contrived to place himself in the very position in which Gerald had formerly been a witness of the attempt at assassination . From the same window now flashed a strong light upon the court below , and by this the features of the officer and his servant were distinctly revealed to the astonished tanner , who , ignorant of their return , and scarcely knowing whether he gazed upon the living or the dead , would have fled , had he not , as he afterwards confessed , been rooted by fear , and a species of fascination , to the spot . The appearance and actions of the parties indeed seemed to justify , not only the delusion , but the alarm of the worthy citizen .