midnight
A Sunday night was fixed for the attempt , because Max and Dale had never worked on Sundays , and their absence would not therefore be likely to arouse any subsequent suspicion that they had had anything to do with the matter . Moreover , all departments of the works were run on reduced staffs , and the staff of the power-house was reduced proportionately . The loss of life which both Max and Dale feared might ensue from the realization of their plans was thus brought to a minimum . Shortly after midnight , Max , Dale , and Dubec made their way silently to the little cache of shells in the river bank , and began transporting them to a point as near the power-house as they could expect to get without attracting notice . There was a bright moon , but there were also clouds , and they patiently bided their time , and moved only when the moon was obscured . It was one o'clock before the whole of the shells had been transported within easy reach of the power-house . The sentries were changed at two o'clock , and Max and Dale waited only until this had been completed .