about two o'clock in the morning
We fully expected the next morning to find some log houses , within ten or fifteen miles , where we should be able to procure another horse for the parson , and some more ammunition , as we had scarcely half a pound of balls left between us . The lawyer enjoyed , by anticipation , the happiness of once more filling his half-gallon flask , and the doctor promised to give us dishes of his own invention , as soon as he could meet with a frying-pan . In fine , so exuberant were our spirits , that it was late before we laid down to sleep . At about two o'clock in the morning , feeling a pressure upon my breast , I opened my eyes , and saw Gabriel with a finger upon his lips , enjoining me to silence . He then informed me , in a whisper , that a numerous party of thieves were in our neighbourhood , and that they had already discovered our horses . Taking with us only our knives and tomahawks , we crawled silently till we came to a small opening in the forest , when we saw some twenty fellows encamped , without any light or fire , but all armed to the teeth . Three or four of them appeared animated in their conversation , and , being favoured by the darkness , we approached nearer , till we were able to hear every word .