midnight
Apparently the idea of keeping guard over the camp had been abandoned , now that they knew Jim and his father were honest . A long time passed , with only the heavy breathing of the boys to disturb the silence . The fire , prepared by Max ere he turned in , continued to burn briskly . It must have been midnight again when Owen felt the hand of his cousin shake him , and , raising his head a little , he saw that there was something doing . Steve was on his hands and knees , and apparently in the act of getting to his feet . Strangely enough he did not seem to show any sign of nervousness or caution ; and Owen looked in vain to see the suspected thief glance suspiciously around , as though to observe whether his comrades were all sound asleep at the time . Bandy-legs did not stir , and , judging from his heavy regular breathing , he must have dropped asleep , despite his intention of staying awake .