midnight
The return of the prospecting party to his humble hospitality that night had been an exceptional case ; in his characteristic simplicity he did not dream that it was because they had nowhere else to go in their penniless condition . It was an incident to be pleasantly remembered , but whose nonrecurrence did not disturb his infinite patience . His pork barrel and flour sack had been replenished for other travelers ; his own wants were few . It was a day or two after the midnight visit of the sheriff to Silver Hollow that Key galloped down the steep grade to Collinson 's . He was amused , albeit , in his new importance , a little aggrieved also , to find that Collinson had as usual confounded his descent with that of the generally detached boulder , and that he was obliged to add his voice to the general uproar . This brought Collinson to his door . `` I 've had your hoss hobbled out among the chickweed and clover in the green pasture back o ' the mill , and he 's picked up that much that he 's lookin ' fat and sassy , '' he said quietly , beginning to mechanically unstrap Key 's bridle , even while his guest was in the act of dismounting .