About ten o'clock
He had gone to work in a roundabout way to gain this information , because he was afraid that if he asked Gus leading questions and told him what use he intended to make of his answers , the deserter would refuse to open his head . He had gained his point by strategy , and he did not intend that Gus should go to Leavenworth if he could help it . Bob 's supply of rations being nearly exhausted , his men and the deserters had a very scant dinner , and they did not get anything more to eat until they reached the fort . About ten o'clock that night they were challenged by one of the sentries , and , not knowing the countersign , were obliged to wait until the corporal of the guard was called . Having at last been admitted inside of the stockade , Bob marched up in front of head-quarters , where he ordered a halt , and he and George dismounted and went in to report to the colonel . Bob was very much astonished at the manner in which the officer greeted the new scout , and so was the orderly . They had never before seen him unbend to anybody as he did to George .