midnight
By the head of the gorge above a party of miners keep guard . They have just come on duty , the relief after a spell of sleep . For Don Estevan , by old experience , knowing there was no clanger of Indian attack in the earlier hours , had entrusted the guard-keeping of these to the more common men . Between midnight and morning is the time to '' ` ware redskin , '' and the guard of this period , now commenced , has been confided to a picked party , two of those composing it being Pedro Vicente and his _ fidus achates _ , Henry Tresillian . Guard it can scarce be called , being only a small vidette-picket . For there is little fear -- scarce a thought -- that the Indians will attempt the ascent , at least not so soon , or without gravely reflecting upon it . `` Perhaps never at all , '' says the _ gambusino _ , in confabulation with his fellow-watchers .