Midnight
The water discharged into a fenced and foursquare earthen reservoir ; below it was a small corral of cedar stakes ; through the open gate , as he rode by , Pete saw a long watering-trough with a float valve . Before the dugout stood a patriarchal juniper , in the shade of which two saddled horses stood droop-hipped , comfortably asleep . Waking , as Pete drew near , they adjusted their disarray in some confusion and eyed the newcomers with bright-eyed inquiry . Midnight , tripping by , hailed them with a civil little whinny . A tall , heavy man upreared himself from the shade . His example was followed by another man , short and heavy . Blankets were spread on a tarpaulin beyond them . ''