midnight
I now thought of the irregular companionships of that old time as inexplicable no longer . They were the things for which men lived -- the inevitable things for every real man . Only this which agitated me so terribly was different from them -- no matter what happened , it would be pure and blameless -- for it would be us ! I suppose it may have been midnight or after , when I heard a far-off splashing sound in the creek far above us . At first I thought of buffalo -- though there were none in Iowa so far as I knew at that time -- and only a few deer or bear ; but finally , as the sound , which was clearly that of much wading , drew even with my camp , I began to hear the voices of men -- low voices , as if even in that wilderness the speakers were afraid of being overheard . `` I 'm always lookin ' , '' said one , `` to find some of these damned movers campin ' in here when we come in with a raise . '' `` If I find any , '' said another , `` they will be nepoed , damned quick . ''