midnight
Correy , Kincaide and I sat before our tents and watched them , chatting about this and that -- I have long since forgotten what . But I shall never forget what occurred just before the watch changed that night . Nor will any man of the _ Ertak 's _ crew . * * * * * It was just a few minutes before midnight . The men had quieted down and were preparing to turn in . I had given orders that this first night they could suit themselves about retiring ; a good officer , and I tried to be one , is never afraid to give good men a little rein , now and then . The fires had died down to great heaps of red coals , filmed with ashes , and , aside from the brilliant galaxy of stars overhead , there was no light from above .