midnight
They were peeping out more and more , for the clouds were dispersing . Only from the southwest distant thunder sounded and lightning flashed occasionally . A shower was falling in that direction . It was past midnight when the main body came up with the advance guard after crossing the Cañada Ancha . Tyope found everything in order , and he directed a farther advance . Tyope was angry . The circuit which he had felt obliged to make made a serious delay , and there was danger that with the early sunrise of the summer months he might be behind to such an extent as to be unable to reach the cover of the woods in time .