midnight
Climbing the ladder , with his handkerchief Wilson tied the lantern to the topmost rung , the red light out , and using his hat just as Alex had done , began flashing the call of the construction-train , `` KX , KX , V ! KX , KX , V ! '' * * * * * Since the construction-train had started from Yellow Creek Junction it had been a center of attraction to coyotes for fifty miles around , and one of the few recreations enjoyed by the men of the train had been hunting them at night . This Saturday night Alex and Jack , borrowing Winchesters from other members of the telegraph-car party , had set out for a `` couple of good rugs , '' as they put it , and on leaving the train had headed east , toward the aqueduct , in which direction they had heard barks of the midnight prowlers . They had gone perhaps three miles , and had fired on several of the wily animals , without success , when suddenly Jack caught Alex by the arm and pointed away to the east . `` Look , Al ! What 's that ? ''