nearly midnight
No chance would either Indians or Tories have to surprise them . They merely lay down in the thick brushwood , three intending to keep watch while the others slept . Henry , Shif ` less Sol , and Heemskerk were the sentinels . It was very late , nearly midnight ; the sky was clear , and presently they saw smoke rings ascending from high hills to their right , to be answered soon by other rings of smoke to their left . The three watched them with but little comment , and read every signal in turn . They said : `` The enemy is still advancing , '' `` He is too strong for us ... . We must retreat and await our brethren . ''