midnight
Men sweating in the glare of collossal bonfires toiled at the work of re-inforcing the dam . They had been faithful ; they were still faithful , but the stress of exhaustion was beginning to sap their morale ; to drive them into irritability so that , under the strain of almost superhuman exertion , they threatened to break . Brent was not of their blood and knew little of how to handle them , and though Parson Acup was indefatigable , his face became more and more apprehensive . `` Ef we kin hold 'em at hit till ther crack of day , we 've got a right gay chanst ter save them big sticks , '' he announced bluntly to Brent near midnight . `` But hit hai n't in reason ter expect men ter plum kill themselves off fer ther profit of somebody else -- an ' him likely ter be dead by termorrer . '' `` Could McGivins have kept them in line himself ? '' demanded Brent and the Parson scratched his head .