midnight
One pair of eyes had detected them in their midnight walk . The tramp , who has already been introduced to the reader , had spent the evening at the gambling house , having come into possession , during the day , of a small sum of money , given him by a compassionate miner . He had risked it , and for a time been successful , so that at the end of an hour he might have left off with twenty pounds . But the fatal fascination of the game drew him on till all his winnings melted away , and he left the cabin at midnight without a penny in his pocket , so far as he knew . There was , however , a shilling which he had overlooked , and did not discover till he was already some distance away . He was tempted to return , and probably would have done so , had not his roving eyes discovered Obed and the two boys returning from their claim with the nugget . `` What are they up to , '' he asked himself in amazement , `` that keeps them out of bed till after midnight ?