four o'clock in the morning
Admitting his figures , the water expense wo n't be a drop in the bucket . It affords good worrying and that keeps the old man in fighting form . I 'm glad he came along ; treat him fair and square , and his friendship means something to you , boys . '' The start to the station was made at four o'clock in the morning . Joel accompanied the drover , the two best horses being under saddle , easily capable of a road gait that would reach the railroad during the early forenoon . The direct course lay across country , and once the sun flooded the Beaver valley , the cowman swung around in the saddle and his practical eye swept the range . On sighting Hackberry Grove , the broken country beyond , including the sand hills , he turned to his guide .