Final answer:
The provided excerpts do not contain a clear action relating to the choices provided, and additional context is necessary to determine what the main characters are attempting to do each night.
Step-by-step explanation:
In the excerpts provided, none of the main characters are trying to light a man's room on fire, make friends with an old man, fall asleep, or get sick from an old man's illness. The closest action related to the choices given would be from the excerpt resembling Edgar Allan Poe's The Tell-Tale Heart, where the main character might be sneaking up on the old man. However, based on the specific excerpts given, it is clear that the characters are engaged in different activities that do not directly coincide with any of the choices provided, suggesting a need for additional context to accurately determine the main characters' nightly goals.