twelve o'clock
A week later , O'Brien 's preparations were complete . I had bought a new umbrella on his advice , and this he had painted with a preparation of oil and beeswax . He had also managed to procure a considerable amount of twine , which he had turned into a sort of strong cord , or square plait . At twelve o'clock on a dark November night we left our room and went down into the yard . By means of pieces of iron , which he drove into the interstices of the stone , we scaled a high wall , and dropped down on the other side by a drawbridge . Here the sentry was asleep , but O'Brien gagged him , and I threw open the pan of his musket to prevent him from firing . Then I followed O'Brien into the river .