about one o'clock
Instead of taking his position beside the trunk of one of the trees , he walked silently around in a circle , keeping the camp-fire as a centre . By this means he not only kept his senses keyed to a high point , but made his espionage nearer perfect than his friend had done . That the night was not to pass without a stirring experience to the younger lad was soon evident . As nearly as he could guess , without consulting his watch , it was about one o'clock , when he became aware that some person or animal was astir in the grove . He heard the faint footfalls on the ground , though for a time he was unable to catch so much as a shadowy glimpse of the intruder . `` I believe it is that Indian , who has come back to square accounts with Jack for getting the better of him . The wisest thing for me to do is to not allow him to see me . ''