midnight
He raised his gun , and was on the point of firing , when he lowered it again . The thought that probably it was a white man , and a dislike to give the camp a groundless alarm , was the cause of this failure to fire . Several times again through the night did he detect a foot-fall , but he was not able to catch sight of the stranger . Shortly after midnight the evidences of his visit ceased , and Jim concluded that he had withdrawn so as to be beyond sight when daylight broke . What was his surprise , therefore , when he saw , as the gray light of morning stole through the wood , the form of a man seated on the ground , with his head reclining against a tree and sound asleep . If this surprise was great , it became absolute amazement when he examined his features , and saw that the man was no other than Lewis Dernor , the leader of the Riflemen of the Miami ! Jim could scarce believe his senses as he walked forward and shook the sleeper by the shoulder .