midnight
The proprietor of the stable informed us that they had fared well , and that he would have them ready for us on an hour 's notice . It was after dark and we were at supper when the first message came . An immediate answer was required , and arising from the table , we left our meal unfinished and hastened to the depot . From then until midnight , messages flashed back and forth , Sponsilier dictating while I wrote . As there was no train before the regular passenger the next day , the last wire requested us to have the horses ready to meet the Eastbound , saying that Bob Quirk would accompany Lovell . That night it frosted again . Sponsilier and I slept until noon the next day without awakening .