midnight
Once they halted to drink from a narrow stream , and then pushed on , hour after hour , through the deserted night . Keith had little fear of Indian raiders in that darkness , and every stride of his horse brought him closer to the settlements and further removed from danger . Yet eyes and ears were alert to every shadow and sound . Once , it must have been after midnight , he drew his pony sharply back into a rock shadow at the noise of something approaching from the east . The stage to Santa Fé rattled past , the four mules trotting swiftly , a squad of troopers riding hard behind . It was merely a lumping shadow sweeping swiftly past ; he could perceive the dim outlines of driver and guard , the soldiers swaying in their saddles , heard the pounding of hoofs , the creak of axles , and then the apparition disappeared into the black void . He had not called out -- what was the use ?