about midnight
He calculated that the Chinaman must have arrived three days before unless unexpectedly delayed , and he chafed at the apparent lack of effort made on his behalf . The only explanation that offered itself was -- that Sims , taking advantage of the events happening at the Bar T , had seized the opportunity to hurry the gathering sheep north across the range . If such was the case , Larkin resigned himself to his fate , since he had given Sims full power to do as he thought best . At about midnight he was dimly conscious of a scuffling sound outside his window , and , getting softly out of bed , went to the opening . In a few minutes the head of a man rose gradually above the window-sill close to the house , and a moment later he was looking into the face of Hard-winter Sims . Controlling the shock this apparition gave him , Larkin placed his finger on his lips and whispered in a tone so low it was scarcely more than a breath : `` Did you get the fellow outside ? '' Sims nodded .