midnight
By the Lord , it 's got to stop , or this country will go to the devil an ' wo n't be fit to live in . Besides , I 've heard of your fellers before -- I 'll tie to the Bar-20 any day . '' `` Well , I reckon you must if you must ; yo 're welcome enough , '' laughed Hopalong , and he strode off to his picketed horse , leaving the others to discuss the fence , with the assistance of the cook , until Pete rode in . When Hopalong rode in at midnight to arouse the others and send them out to relieve Skinny and his two companions , the cattle were quieter than he had expected to leave them , and he could see no change of weather threatening . He was asleep when the others turned in , or he would have been further assured in that direction . Out on the plain where the herd was being held , Red and the three other guards had been optimistic until half of their shift was over and it was only then that they began to worry . The knowledge that running water was only twelve miles away had the opposite effect than the one expected , for instead of making them cheerful , it caused them to be beset with worry and fear .