midnight
`` Lots , and I aint dead yet . ` Pears to me I 'm about as tough as a pine-knot . '' It was found that the horses had not suffered in the least from the storm , although they had been much frightened . Soon they calmed down , and by midnight all was as quiet as if nothing out of the ordinary had occurred . But Captain Moore and old Benson carried the marks of the adventure for many days after . On the following morning no one felt much in the humor for hunting , and half a day was lost in `` bumming around , '' as Joe expressed it . This gave all a good rest and put the horses in fine fettle , and when they started out after the midday meal all were once again in high spirits .