about midnight
They kept close in the lee of the trees and did not build any fire , although it was very cold , so cold that the bearskin coats again formed a welcome addition to the blankets . Boyd said it would be best for them to keep watch , although little danger was anticipated . Still , they could not be too cautious , and Will , who insisted on mounting guard in his turn , was permitted to do so . The Little Giant kept the first watch and Will the second , beginning about midnight . Giant Tom , who awakened him for it , went almost instantly to sleep himself , and the lad was left alone . He lay upon a rather wide shelf , with his two comrades only a few feet away , while the horses and mules were back of them , having withdrawn as much as they could into the stubbly pines and cedars in order to protect themselves from the cold wind . Will heard one of them stir now and then , or draw a deep breath like a sigh , but it merely formed an under note in the steady whistling of the wind , which at that height seemed to have an edge of ice , making him shiver in all his wrappings .