midnight
The light of day soon shone upon the scene , and they were able to perceive how their enemies had approached so near the camp without being observed . About a hundred paces from where the guards had been standing at the time the first two shots were fired , was a furrow or ravine running through the soft sand . This ravine branched into two lesser ones , including within their angle the Arab camp , as also the sentinels stationed to guard it . Up the branches the midnight murderers had silently stolen , each taking a side ; and in this way had got within easy distance of the unsuspecting sentries . In the bottom of one of the furrows , where the sand was more firmly compacted , was found the impression of human footsteps . The tracks had been made by some person hurriedly leaving the spot . `` Dis be de track ob Golah , '' said the Krooman to Harry , after he had examined it .