midnight
One quick leap through the dim stream of light from the lantern at his back and he will be in the dark area , and can pick his noiseless way to the shadows beyond . It is an easy thing to gain the foot-path beyond the old retaining wall back of the guard-house , scud away under the trees along the winding ascent towards Fort Putnam , until he meets the back-road half-way up the heights ; then turn southward through the rocky cuts and forest aisles until he reaches the main highway ; then follow on through the beautiful groves , through the quiet village , across the bridge that spans the stream above the falls , and then , only a few hundred yards beyond , there lies Hawkshurst and its bevy of excited , whispering , applauding , delighted girls . If he meet officers , all he has to do is put on a bold face and trust to his disguise . He means to have a glorious time and be back , tingling with satisfaction on his exploit , by a little after midnight . In five minutes his quarrel with Stanley is forgotten , and , all alert and eager , he is half-way up the heights and out of sight or hearing of the barracks . The roads are well-nigh deserted . He meets one or two squads of soldiers coming back from `` pass '' at the Falls , but no one else .