four o'clock
The boys lighted a fire within the stockade to get their breakfast by , but it was hidden so that no hint of their plans would be given to a watchful enemy . The boys felt jovial when they got fairly waked up . The air was cold and bracing , and they all felt that the end of their long journey was drawing near . By four o'clock everything was ready for the start . The mules were packed , and the boys rode out in silence through the starry darkness across the level floor of the valley . Jim was in the lead , and the rest followed in order . Instead of going up the main trail through the big canyon , Jim bore to the right , making straight through the park where the men had killed the deer .