midnight
The prisoner was bound with cowhide to the wall of the cabin and four men sat near and facing him . The noonday meal was eaten in silence , and the punchers rode off to see about rounding up the cattle that grazed over the plain as far as eye could see . Supper-time came and passed , and busy men rode away in all directions . Others came and relieved the guards , and at midnight another squad took up the vigil . Day broke and the thunder of hoofs as the punchers rounded up the cattle became very noticeable . One herd swept past toward the south , guarded and guided by fifteen men . Two hours later and another followed , taking a slightly different trail so as to avoid the close-cropped grass left by the first .