about midnight
You boys will hear dat tonight , see if you does n't , '' and she gave a very mysterious wink at Dorothy , who just then nearly choked with her dessert . A few hours later the house was all quiet . The happenings of the day brought a welcome night , and tired little heads comfortably hugged their pillows . It must have been about midnight , Bert was positive he had just heard the clock strike a lot of rings , surely a dozen or so , when at his window came a queer sound , like something pecking . At first Bert got it mixed up with his dreams , but as it continued longer and louder , he called to Harry , who slept in the alcove in Bert 's room , and together the boys listened , attentively . `` That 's the strange bird , '' declared Harry . `` Sure enough it is bringing us a message , as Dinah said , '' and while the boys took the girl 's words in a joke , they really seemed to be coming true .