eleven o'clock at night
is that you , little one ? Where are you going to pass the night ? '' `` I do not know where , '' replied the boy . `` Well , I never heard of such a thing ; at eleven o'clock at night , and a little scrap of a boy like you in a strange place '' -- The sheep-dealer seemed to speak in a great hurry , for he could scarcely breathe in his excitement ; neither did he finish his sentence , for the driver entered the stable at that moment , and Rico went up to him at once , saying , `` I want to thank you for bringing me along with you . '' `` You have come just in the nick of time . I had almost forgotten you while I was looking after my horses , and I wanted to hand you over to an acquaintance . I was thinking of asking you , good friend , '' he continued , turning towards the dealer , `` if you would not take this little chap along with you , as you are going to Bergamo .