nine o’clock
But , though very weary , our friends did not lie down at once , but sat before the fire speculating and wondering if they would be able to climb out of the cañon on the morrow and make their way to Hurley 's Gulch . Although there was no danger in this place from wild beasts or savage foes , Sam Willett began to-night a system of guard duty which he kept up during all the nights of his perilous journey . His great fear now was that the flood might rise and carry off the raft or drown out their camping-place , as it was evident it had done on many former occasions . That they might not be taken by surprise , he divided the night into four watches , to begin at nine o'clock and to continue till five , when it would be broad daylight . Each one was to stand guard two hours at a time and to wake the next one when his watch had expired . The order was to be changed every night so that no one would have to be on duty at the same time two nights in succession . This arrangement met with the approval of all , and Sam took the first turn on guard .