midnight
True , the orb of night was clouded , and only in her first quarter , but she gave light enough to enable the horseman to avoid dangers and proceed at full speed . Thus , while the pursuers snored , the pursued went scouring over the prairies , farther and farther towards the fair west . Michel Rollin , being a lively , restless character , used generally to be up before his comrades in the mornings , and gratified an inquisitive propensity by poking about . In his pokings he discovered the trail of the midnight visitor , and thereupon set up a howl of surprise that effectually roused Ian and Victor . These , guns in hand , rushed , as they fancied , to the rescue . `` What a noisy goose you are ! '' said Victor , on learning the cause of the cry .