midnight
`` Have they much the start of us ? '' `` I reckon they have . '' Bud was down on his knees , looking closely at the tracks . `` Yes , '' he continued , `` they went by here shortly after midnight . '' `` How do you know ? '' `` Against ther east side o ' each o ' these leetle depressions made by a hoof is some fresh snow . '' `` I do n't see how that tells the time . ''