midnight
John ran off . Old Sinjin had also taken his departure , evidently not liking young Winch 's company . Frank was left once more to his own thoughts , watching the picturesque groups about the fires . It was now midnight . The last of the old straw from the emptied ticks had been cast into the flames , and the broken tent-floors were burning brilliantly . Some of the wiser ones were bent on getting a little sleep . Frank saw Atwater spreading his rubber blanket on the ground , and resolved to follow his example .