midnight
`` You 're not far from the truth , '' said Coleman , laughing a little , and pleased at the penetration of his new friend . They did not talk further , although the agreement between them was well established . Neither did the Indian chiefs or the Tory leaders say any more . They watched the tower of fire a long time , past midnight , until it reached its zenith and then began to sink . They saw its crest go down behind the trees , and they saw the luminous cloud in the south fade and go out entirely , leaving there only the darkness that reined everywhere else . Then the Indian and Tory leaders rose and silently marched northward . It was nearly dawn when Henry and his comrades lay down for the rest that they needed badly .