nearly midnight
It was obvious that the Indians were preparing for a great campaign , but that they would take their own time . Most of the scouting was done by Henry and Sol , and several times they lay in the thick brushwood and watched , by the light of the fires , what was passing in the Indian camp . On the fifth night after the rescue of Long Jim , Henry and Shif ` less Sol lay in the covert . It was nearly midnight , but the fires still burned in the Indian camp , warriors were polishing their weapons , and the women were cutting up or jerking meat . While they were watching they heard from a point to the north the sound of a voice rising and failing in a kind of chant . `` Another war party comin ' , '' whispered Shif ` less Sol , `` an ' singin ' about the victories that they 're goin ' to win . '' `` But did you notice that voice ? ''