midnight
As Vic was without her collar , she may not have been killed . '' The hours crept slowly on . The uneasy animals never ceased their walk backward and forward between the water and the wagons , uttering their discontent . Towards midnight , overcome by the fatigues of the day , I fell into a doze , and did not wake until called at three . A breakfast similar to our supper was served , and we were ready for the road . The mules were harnessed while vigorously braying their protests against such ill usage , and , once under way , slowly drew the wagons to the summit of the divide between the Lithodendron and the Little Colorado , a distance of twelve miles . I did not see Frank while overlooking the drawing out of the train , but gave myself no anxiety on his account , thinking he had accompanied the advance .