midnight
His enemies , fully aware of the difficulties of his situation , undoubtedly were using every endeavor to thwart him , it being certain that they were aware of his identity . To have captured the leader of the Riflemen of the Miami would have been a feat of which even a war-party would have been proud , and the Huron well knew they would not give over their efforts until he was absolutely beyond their reach . This was the reason why he was so anxious to press forward as far as it would be prudent to venture during the darkness . By midnight the two had reached a point above which the Huron believed the fugitives would not go ; and being unable to determine the precise course which they had taken after this , they concluded to wait until daylight before going further . Accordingly they lay down on the ground , both dropping to sleep immediately , and both waking at precisely the same moment , just as the light of the day was appearing . A half-hour 's search discovered the trail of their friends within several hundred yards of where they had slept -- thus close and exact had been the calculation of the sagacious Huron . He and O'Hara now began to entertain hopes that , after all , the fugitives had succeeded in reaching the settlement .