midnight
For one thing I was glad that Rose and Letty were safe at Fort Ross , though I had no doubt that they would have behaved as courageously as any girls under the circumstances could have done , and if they had not fired the muskets , would have helped to load them , and would have tended any who were wounded . We showed no lights from the fort , which might have let the Indians know that we were on the watch . We spoke also in low voices , that , should any of them be skulking round the fort , they might not hear us . It was about two hours past midnight ; though I confess that I was beginning to get somewhat tired , neither Alick nor I had relaxed in our vigilance . Martin was also doing his part in watching from the tower at the south-west angle . It was agreed that even should we see the Indians approaching we should give no sign that we were awake , so that our fire , when once we opened it , might have greater effect . If one side only was attacked , the whole garrison was to go over to defend it , leaving only a single man at the other angles to watch lest another party might assault it on that side .