ten o'clock
Following this display of force our advance became a trifle more rapid . I endeavored to think , to plan more definitely my course upon arriving at the Beaucaire plantation , but discovered it quite impossible to concentrate my mind upon anything . My entire attention had to be riveted on the intricacies of the road , which wound in and out among the bluffs , down one gully and up another , until I finally lost all sense of direction , and merely stumbled on after the dark outlines of the cart , through a black cave formed by the branches of over-arching trees . It was considerably after ten o'clock when we emerged upon an open plateau , and a glimmer of stars overhead revealed to me afar off the silver thread of the great river . Even in that dim light I could trace its winding course along the valley , and the view by daylight from this point must have been a delight to the eye . Pete stopped the straining mule , a feat not at all difficult of accomplishment , the animal 's sides rising and falling as he wheezed for breath , and came back to where I stood , staring about at the dimly perceived objects in the foreground . `` Out dar am de Beaucaire place , '' he announced , as soon as he could distinguish my presence , waving his arm to indicate the direction .