midnight
Twice had he withheld his censure , knowing , after all , Feeny to be in the right and himself in the wrong . And now in the gathering shades of night , as he stood in silence watching the brisk process of grooming , and noted how thorough and business-like , even though sharp and stern , was Feeny , the paymaster was wishing he had not ventured to disregard the caution of so skilled a veteran . And yet the paymaster , having a human heart in his breast , had been sorely tried , for the appeal that came for help was one he could not well resist . Passing Ceralvo 's at midnight and pushing relentlessly ahead instead of halting there as the men had hoped , the party was challenged in the Mexican tongue . '' _ Que viene ? _ '' To which unlooked-for and uncalled-for demand the leading trooper , scorning Greaser interference in American territory , promptly answered , -- `` Go to hell ! '' All the same he heard the click of lock and was prompt to draw his own Colt , as did likewise the little squad riding ahead of the creaking ambulance .