midnight
`` How many days are we to stay out ? '' `` You are to take five days ' rations . If the boys are not found in that time I fear they will never be found . '' I went to bed early , and soon fell into a fitful slumber , which lasted until an hour before midnight . I arose , dressed , and sat down by the smouldering camp-fire , a prey to unpleasant reflections . Suddenly the sound of a cantering horse approaching from the north fell upon my ears . What could it mean ?