ten o'clock
Evening closed in upon a restless and excited swarm of starving insects , but they were unable to fly at night or while the wind was blowing . It was necessary to find food ; hunger 's pangs may not be suffered long by creatures whose active life is numbered in weeks . The high wind had cooled the air and made the locusts stupid and sleepy , but when the next morning the wind had fallen , and the sun had warmed their bodies , as fast as they were able all were on the wing , headed for the north . The air was calm , and by ten o'clock they were away in swarms , leaving ruin and desolation to show that they had sojourned in the land . The situation was truly desperate . Cattle , horses , and hogs were without food of any sort . Many families were new to the country and had depended upon sod-corn for the winter 's supply of provender for both man and beast .