Midnight
After a time he began to wonder if his guides were as loyal as they should be , if Hilario 's strange reticence was caused by sullenness , by apprehension , or by something altogether different . Both of the men were strangers to him ; of their fidelity he had no guarantee . Now that his mind had become engaged with thoughts of treachery , a determined effort was necessary to keep himself in hand and O'Reilly fell back finally upon his elemental trust in the Cuban character -- scant consolation under the circumstances . Midnight brought a moist , warm breeze and a few formless clouds which served at times to dimly obscure the moon . Watching the clouds , O'Reilly hoped that they might prove to be the heralds of a storm . None came . When the moon had finally crept down into the tree-tops old Hilario stepped upon his cigarette , then began silently to saddle up .