twelve o'clock
`` Got a new job for you to-day , Chunky , '' announced Ned Rector while cinching the pack girths . `` What is it ? '' `` We 've decided to let you follow along behind with a sharp stick and prod the mules so they will make better time . '' `` Think I 'll wait till after twelve o'clock to-night , '' answered the fat boy . They were off soon after that , but the mules had never seemed to move as slowly as they did that morning . Instead of an hour , more than two hours had passed before they finally came within hailing distance of the camp-fire . For some time , they had been finding difficulty in keeping it in sight , as the fire appeared to be dying down .