one o'clock in the morning
Such was the picture of the Larkin sheep that night , only there was no moon . They started at ten , and Sims sent Miguel forward to walk before them , so they would not exhaust themselves with too fast traveling . On the move the sheep seemed more contented . It was perhaps one o'clock in the morning that Larkin , in company with his chief herder , spurred out far in front of the advancing flock to reconnoiter . The sheep would be within approaching distance of the ford in a couple of hours , and Bud wished everything to be clear for them . Nearing the Big Horn , Sims suddenly drew up his horse , motioning Bud to silence . Listening intently , they heard the voice of a man singing an old familiar plains song .