About midnight
In any event , there would be no evidence that he had entertained the invaders in his hovel ; otherwise , he would lose the first-class badge that permitted him , a convict , to dwell apart with his wife and daughter . It was with the utmost difficulty that the men could be restrained from expressing their delight when they were given water and milk to drink . The water was poor , brackish stuff ; the milk was sour and had lost every particle of cream ; yet they deemed each a nectar of rank , and even the miserable Watts , who had long ago ascertained that the rustlings in the herbage were caused by countless numbers of rats and mice , was ready to acclaim beverages which he was too apt to despise . About midnight there was a bright moon sailing overhead , and De Sylva gave a low order that they were to form in Indian file . Marcel led , the ex-President himself followed , with San Benavides , Coke , and Hozier in close proximity . Domingo brought up the rear , in order to prevent straggling , and assist men who might stray from the path . Avoiding the cultivated land surrounding the creek , the party struck up the hillside .