about
midnight
The former issued his orders in a few brief words , and in a very short space of time eight barefooted men , armed only with their carbines and revolvers , were drawn up in line ready to do his further bidding ; while the four troopers who were to be left behind to hold the horses and to take care of the sabres , shoes and stockings which their lucky comrades had thrown upon the ground , listened with as good grace as they could to a few parting words from their corporal . `` Now , boys , '' said the latter , `` keep quiet and do n't smoke . We have been following the trail of only five Indians , but we do n't know how many may have joined them since they went into camp ; so you must hold yourselves in readiness for any emergency . Keep a good lookout for the signal , and if you do n't see it by the time the moon rises , which will be about midnight , take care of yourselves . Draw as straight a course for the column as you can , and tell the boys , when you find them , that the reds got the best of us while we were trying to do our duty . Good-bye . -- Lead on , George . ''