But the boy always slept so heavily that it was next to impossible to wake him.
The dogs were barking.

Katherine called out to Miles, who answered back.

Then there were other voices and a great banging at the door of the store.

That was when Mrs.Burton first became aware that something was going on, and started up out of the rocking-chair under the impression that she had been there the whole night and that morning had come already.
A glance at the clock showed her, however, that it was not so very late yet, and still a long way from midnight.

Then, remembering that Katherine and Miles were out, she guessed it was they who were making such a clamour at the door of the store, and hurried to let them in.
"I hope we haven't frightened Father with all the noise we have had to make, but you seemed so dead asleep that we had to make a great riot in order to get in," Katherine said, as she and Miles towed the sledge inside the store to be unloaded at leisure when morning came.
"I will go and see to Father, but Phil is with him now.