midnight
For with a canteen or two of water , some food and his two capable legs to carry him , Casey Ryan could have made it to Barstow easily enough . But because he was Casey Ryan , and Irish , and because he was always on the hunt for trouble without recognizing it when he met it in the trail , it never occurred to him to follow Barney down to safer country . `` That there Joshuay tree meant a lot more 'n what it let on , pointin ' up this way ! '' Casey muttered , staring down upon a somnolent wilderness blanketed with hushed midnight . `` If it thinks it 's got Casey whipped , it better think agin and think quick . I 'll give it somethin' to point at , ` fore I leave this here butte . `` Funny , the way it kept pointin ' up this way .