midnight
The boy ranchers rode leisurely along , for there was no special hurry in getting back . It might reasonably be supposed that the rustlers would not again make a raid within a few days at least . And Old Billee , Yellin ' Kid , Snake Purdee and Four Eyes , to say nothing of Buck Tooth , were well able to look after matters in Happy Valley . And thus proceeding at a foot pace , it was well after midnight when the boys started down the last slope that led into the valley proper . In daylight it would have been possible , from this part of the trail , to have observed the tents and the reservoir . But now all was shrouded in darkness . No , not altogether darkness , for as the boys rode forward there suddenly glimmered in the gloom a light , high up in the air .