midnight
She turned Nelly 's head homeward , and cantered silently away in the gathering twilight . When Captain Haralson and the two troopers reached the verge of the forest , they could trace for a short distance the hoof-prints of Harold 's horse , and followed them eagerly among the labyrinthine paths which the fugitive had made through the tangled shrubbery and among the briery thickets . But soon the gloom of night closed in upon them in the depth of the silent wood , and they were left without a sign by which to direct the pursuit . It was near midnight when they reached the further edge of the forest , and there , throwing fantastic gleams of red light among the shadows of the tall trees , they caught sight of what seemed to be the glimmer of a watchfire . Soon after , the growl of a hound was heard , followed by a deep-mouthed bay , and approaching cautiously , they were hailed by the watchful sentinel . It was a Confederate picket , posted on the outskirt of the forest , and Haralson , making himself known , rode up to where the party , awakened by their approach , had roused themselves from their blankets , and were standing with ready rifles beside the blazing fagots . Haralson made known his errand to the officer in command , and the sentries were questioned , but all declared that nothing had disturbed their watch ; if the fugitive had passed their line , he had succeeded in eluding their vigilance .