midnight
. . I rode back that way five years later , from the Never Never . It was early in the morning -- I had ridden since midnight . I did n't think the old man would be up and about ; and , besides , I wanted to get on home , and have a look at the old folk , and the mates I 'd left behind -- and the girl . But I had n't got far past the point where Howlett 's track joined the road , when I happened to look back , and saw him on horseback , stumbling down the track . I waited till he came up .