midnight
Against the bush rangers , on the other hand , a deadly hatred was felt by the colonists ; and the fact that these were constantly aided , by the ticket-of-leave labourers , increased the hostility with which they were regarded . Jim left his horse behind him , when he started with his party ; saying that coming back at night , in the dark , he would rather be without it . After their comrades had set out , those who remained behind posted two men as sentries ; and then , as soon as they had cooked and eaten a meal , laid themselves down to sleep , until the time should come for their advance . It was just midnight when Jim returned . He reported that he had seen no blacks by the way , and that he believed he had posted his party without their being observed . He himself , instead of returning by the same route that he had taken them , had come straight up the valley . There were , he said , two huts which had been built by the bush rangers ; and these were now occupied by them .