three in the morning
He came back in time for guard mounting and the reports of the officers-of-the-day . He had reason to be on the parade at the `` assembly of the details , '' not so much to watch the work of the post adjutant _ pro tempore _ , as the effect of the sudden and unlooked for change on certain of the customary spectators . He had swiftly ridden to the camp of the recreant Stabber and purposely demanded speech with that influential chieftain . There had been the usual attempt on part of the old men left in charge to hoodwink and to temporize , but when sharply told that Stabber , with his warriors , had been seen riding away toward Eagle Butte at three in the morning , the sages calmly confessed judgment , but declared they had no other purpose than a hunt for a drove of elk reported seen about the famous Indian race course in the lower hills of the Big Horn . Circling the camp , however , Webb had quickly counted the pony tracks across the still dewy bunchgrass of the bench , and found Schreiber 's estimate substantially correct . Then , stopping at the lodge of Stabbers 's uncle , old `` Spotted Horse , '' where that superannuated but still sagacious chief was squatted on his blanket and ostentatiously puffing a long Indian pipe , Webb demanded to know what young men remained in the village . Over a hundred strong , old men , squaws and children , they thronged about him , silent , big-eyed and attentive , Schreiber interpreting as best he could , resorting to the well-known sign language when the crafty Sioux professed ignorance of the meaning of his words : -- `` No young men .