two o'clock in the morning
I suppose he got through . '' It was hard to talk while riding at such a rate of speed , and soon the conversation came to an end . The horses now showed plain evidence of their long journey , but each rider kept his steed at his best . It was after two o'clock in the morning when the fort came into view , dark and silent in the midst of the plain surrounding it . Benson now rode in advance . `` Halt ! '' came the sudden command , while the scout was still a hundred yards from the stockade .