midnight
George would have preferred decidedly to be able to go to a hotel at night , rather than to camp in the woods ; but Bob and Ralph were only too well pleased at the idea of living a gipsy life , therefore it was decided to keep on , or , more properly speaking , since no one made any objection to the plan , Bob continued to urge the horses on in the direction the thieves were supposed to have gone . The night was not so dark but that they could drive a good pace , but had it been daylight there is no question but that Bob 's horses would have shown considerably better speed , for their driver was anxious to reach Babcock early , in order that the animals might have as long a rest as possible , before starting on their journey next day , which would likely be a hard one . Bob sang , laughed , and acted generally as if he was in the best of spirits , while Ralph joined in with him , for he enjoyed this night-drive immensely ; but George remained silent , his great desire to get on faster causing the speed at which they were traveling to seem very slow . It was some time past midnight when they arrived at Babcock , and much as they liked to camp out , both Ralph and Bob would have been better satisfied , just then , if they could have remained all night at the hotel , for they were so tired that sleeping in the open air had not as many charms for them as usual . `` Here 's where we would have stopped if we had not been obliged to give up all our money , '' said Bob , as they drove past the hotel . `` But now that we are nothing more nor less than three-dollar paupers , we shall be obliged to do as the thieves are probably doing -- make up our bed under the greenwood , or some other kind of a tree . '' `` It might be worse , '' said George , who was beginning to recover some of his cheerfulness as his companions lost theirs , `` and we will stop at the next clump of trees . ''