midnight
`` We always could , '' teased Miss Briggs . Now that the supper was ready , Ping piled more sagebrush on the fire and made a blaze that lighted up the little desert camp , its white tents standing out clearly defined in the light and appearing very small . Just beyond them the `` crunch , crunch '' of the ponies ' teeth as they tore at the sage , which was to be their only food for a long time to come , could be heard , and it really was a soothing sound in this sea of silence and mystery . There was bacon , biscuit with honey , and tea for their midnight luncheon . Emma and Hippy were first to try the bacon , but no sooner did they taste of it than they began to choke and sputter . `` Awful ! What stuff are you feeding me ? ''