midnight
He was n't wid us , however , in regard of his brother being under board that night ; but , instid of him , Tim Grogan went to show the way up the little glin to the house , though , for that matther , the most of us knew it as well as he did ; but we did n't like to be the first to put a hand to it , if we could help it . * That is , had been made members of a secret society . `` At any rate , we sot in Farrell 's empty house , drinking whiskey , till they war all gathered , when about two dozen of them got the damp soot from the chimley , and rubbed it over their faces , making them so black , that their own relations could n't know them . We then went across the country in little lots , of about six or ten , or a score , and we war glad that the wake was in Widdy Koran 's , seeing that if any one would meet we war going to it you know , and the blackening of the faces would pass for a frolic ; but there was no great danger of being met for it was now long beyant midnight . `` Well , gintlemen , it puts me into a tremble , even at this time , to think of how little we cared about doing what we were bent upon . Them that had to manage the business war more than half drunk ; and , hard fortune to me ! but you would think it was to a wedding they went -- some of them singing songs against the law -- some of them quite merry , and laughing as if they had found a mare 's nest .