midnight
`` And why so ? '' `` That storm that we 've been talking about is holding off , as though it finds it hard to make up its mind to come , but it will be here within twenty hours or less . '' `` I am glad of it , '' remarked the youth , thinking of his friends in the distant cabin , which had escaped burning by such a narrow chance . It was now past midnight , and those who were to be off duty did not squander the precious hours ; but , crawling into the covered wagon , bundled themselves up and slept the sleep which waits on rugged health . At the earliest streakings of light the camp was astir . The man who served the party as cook had no light task on his hands . He generally carried a lot of wood in the wagon with him , for the reason that it was not always easy to obtain , and , by doing this , he was sure of always having enough dry fuel to burn readily when wanted .