midnight
Malachi White had no education , but he had much judgment and he was a philosopher . But Dick and the others rode on through the forest , penetrating into the high and rough hills which were sparsely inhabited . The nights , as it was now October , were cool , despite the heat and dust of the day , and they rode in a grateful silence . It was more than an hour after dark when Powell , one of the Frankforters , spoke : `` We can hit the old town by midnight easy enough , '' he said . `` Unless they 've stretched pretty wide lines of pickets I can lead you , sir , within four hundred yards of Frankfort , where you can stay under cover yourself and look right down into it . I guess by this good moonlight I could point out old Bragg himself , if he should be up and walking around the streets . '' `` That suits us , Powell , '' said Colonel Winchester .