nine at night
`` Lodge Pole '' announced for himself that some old friends of his were on the guard that night , and he was going over to smoke a pipe and have a chat with them . To this `` Chug '' responded that he wished he would n't leave the office . There was no telling what might turn up or how soon he 'd be wanted . But `` Lodge Pole '' said the operators were not required to stay at the board after nine at night ; he would have the keeper of the station listen for his call , and would run over to camp for an hour ; would be back at half-past ten and sleep by his instrument . Meantime , if needed , he could be called in a minute , -- the guard tents were only three hundred yards away , -- and so he went . Ralph almost wished that he had sent a message to the colonel to tell him of their suspicions and anxiety . He knew well that every officer and every private in that sleeping battalion would turn out eagerly and welcome the twenty-five-mile trot forward to the Chug on the report that the Sioux were out `` on the war-path '' and might be coming that way .