midnight
Leaving their father in the care of their Aunt Martha , the three Rover boys armed themselves and sallied forth , accompanied by their uncle and Alexander Pop , the latter carrying a horse-pistol of the old-fashioned variety . `` Dat dar Baxter am a rascal of de fust water , '' was Aleck 's comment . `` He deserbes to be shot full ob holes , an ' I am de boy to do dat same , if only I gets de chance . '' Jack Ness was closely questioned , and he described the spot where he had last seen the unwelcome midnight visitor . `` He had a bag of something over his shoulder , '' he declared . `` Most likely the stuff taken from the house , '' declared Dick . The party crossed the garden patch and then took to the path which ran down toward the river .