about one o'clock in the morning
An Indian makes up in suppleness and activity what he lacks in strength , and it takes a good man to handle one . Of course the troopers were sorry for their wounded comrade , but they had `` got a joke '' on him , and it was a long time before he heard the last of it . The men who had been left to take care of the horses arrived in about an hour , and then George had another disagreeable task to perform , which was to pilot the animals down to the water and find a feeding-ground for them . Being entirely unacquainted with the gully and surrounding country , it took him a long time to do this ; but he accomplished it at last , in spite of the darkness , and about one o'clock in the morning he was at liberty to go to his blanket . The troopers slept later than usual the next morning , for they were all tired out ; but Bob 's loud call of `` Catch up ! '' brought them to their feet before the sun had risen high enough to send any of his rays into the camp . As there was a good deal to be done and but little time to do it in , four details were made , and certain duties assigned to each .