twelve o'clock
But for such gloomy outlook Miss Sanford had little thought . She went to the window to draw the curtain , and far out across the distant prairie slopes , where she could see them at all , the moon was throwing her silvery beams , while closer at hand broad , irregular wastes of blackness sailed over the dry plateau as the clouds that caused them drifted across the dazzling face . Harsh and unlovely as were the surroundings by day , they lost something of their asperity under the softening shimmer of that mystic light . Far down by the stables she could hear the ringing watch-call of the sentries proclaiming half-past twelve o'clock and all well , and then -- and then as a cloud floated away and the bright beams poured down in unhindered radiance , she became aware of a form enveloped in a cavalry overcoat standing in the corner of the fence . She could see the moonlight glinting on the polished insignia , -- the crossed sabres , -- on the front of his forage-cap , and though she could not see the face , she knew it was that of Sergeant Wolf . Captain and Mrs. Truscott were still below . She could hear them putting out the parlor lamps and locking the doors .