midnight
Stick their damned heads into that trough beyant . Now be lively . The whole gang 'll be on us in less than a minute . '' At midnight the situation at Moreno 's ranch was a strange one . The occupants of the two rooms farthest to the east were being besieged by ten or fifteen outlawed men , some Mexican , some `` Gringo , '' but all cut-throats , and up to this moment the besieged had had the best of it . And yet their plight was desperate . In the easternmost room , secure from bullet or missile of any kind so long as they crouched close to the ground and back from the door-way , lay trembling in silence old Harvey 's daughters .