half past ten
As a general thing the occupants of the Miners ' Rest went to bed early . Mining is a fatiguing business , and those who follow it have little difficulty in dropping off to sleep . The only persons who were not engaged in this business were Louis Wheeler and Rodney Ropes . As a rule the hotel was closed at half past ten and before this all were in bed and sleeping soundly . When Wheeler went to bed he said to himself , `` This will probably be my last night in this tavern . I will go from here to Helena , and if things turn out right I may be able to make my stay there profitable . I sha n't dare to stay here long after relieving Pettigrew of his bag of gold . ''