midnight
Tom hesitated no longer . He vaulted into the saddle . His comrades also mounted , and in a few minutes more the three were riding away from Pine Tree Diggings as fast as the nature of the ground and the darkness of the hour would permit . It was not quite midnight when they left the place where they had toiled so long , and had met with so many disasters , and the morning was not far advanced when they reached the spring of the Red Man 's Teacup . As this was a natural and convenient halting-place to parties leaving those diggings , they resolved to rest and refresh themselves and their steeds for a brief space , although they knew that the robber-chief had appointed that spot as a rendezvous after the attack on the camp . `` You see , it 's not likely they 'll be here for an hour or two , '' said Tom Brixton , as he dismounted and hobbled his horse , `` for it will take some time to collect their scattered forces , and they wo n't have their old leader to spur them on , as Paddy 's rap on the head will keep him quiet till the men of the camp find him . '' `` Troth , I 'm not so sure o ' that , sor .