midnight
They kept cautiously out of the zone of light cast by the mutineers ' campfire , which now , however , was dying out . Finally the craft grated on the sand . Under Drew 's whispered directions , the men shouldered the stores , and the party commenced the toilsome march inland to the little fort . It was fully midnight when they were challenged by the sentinels at the edge of the wood . `` Ahoy , there ! '' called Drew , hailing the fort . `` Ahoy , yourself ! ''