about midnight
I do n't recall ever telling it before , but it may interest you , Miss Spencer , as illustrative of one phase of life in this country . A party of us were out after bear , and one night when I chanced to be left all alone in camp , I did n't dare fall asleep and leave everything unguarded , as the Indians were all around as thick as leaves on a tree . So I decided to sit up in front of the tent on watch . Along about midnight , I suppose , I dropped off into a doze , for the first thing I heard was the hee-haw of a mule right in my ear . It sounded like a clap of thunder , and I jumped up , coming slap-bang against the brute 's nose so blamed hard it knocked me flat ; and then , when I fairly got my eyes open , I saw five Sioux Indians creeping along through the moonlight , heading right toward our pony herd . I tell you things looked mighty skittish for me just then , but what do you suppose I did with 'em ? '' `` Eh -- eat 'em , likely , '' suggested McNeil , thoughtfully , `` fried with plenty of -- eh -- salt ; heard they were -- eh -- good that way . ''