five
o'clock
Pappoose would never hear the love words that , trembling on his lips the night he left her , had been poured out only to that unresponsive picture . Two ways there were in which the Indians could know of his presence . One by being informed through some half-breed spy , lurking about Frayne ; but then who would be dastard enough to send such word ? The other by being seen and recognized by some of the Ogallalla band , and thus far he believed they had come undetected , and it was now after five o'clock -- after five o'clock and all was well . In a few hours they could again be on their starlit way . With the morrow they should be safely within the gates of the new stockade at Warrior Gap . Turning with hope and relief in his face to speak to Sergeant Bruce , who lay there at his elbow , he saw the blue-sleeved arm stretching forth in warning to lie low , and with grave eyes the veteran was gazing straight at a little butte that rose from the rolling surface not more than half a mile away to the southeast .