two o'clock
They had their simple dinner at half-past seven , when the detective took it on himself to entertain the party , and succeeded so well that the entertainment was continued on the veranda for the better part of another hour . Doubled up in his chair , abnormal , weird , he recounted in particular the exploits of Stingaree -LRB- included a garbled version of the recent fiasco across the Murray -RRB- with a zest only equalled by his confidant undertaking to avenge the death of Robert Duncan before another day was out ; all listened in a rapt silence , and the younger men were duly disappointed when the party broke up prematurely between nine and ten . But they also had played their part in a fatiguing week ; by the later hour all were in their rooms , and before very long Rosanna Station lay lighted only by the full white moon of New South Wales . Cameron wondered if it could possibly be two o'clock , while Tyler sat up insensate with the full weight of his first sleep , when their chief crept into the double-bedded room in which the two policemen had been put . He owned himself before his time by an hour and more , but explained that he had an idea which had only struck him as he was about to fall asleep . `` If we hunt for the fellow in the dark , '' said he , `` we may give him the alarm before we come on him . But if we go now there is at least a chance that we may find his fire to guide us .