midnight
Beyond it was a fine valley . Before we started , Flood rode in from the herd , and said to Honeyman , `` I 'm going to send the horses and wagon ahead to-night , and you and McCann want to camp on this side of the river , under the hill and just a few hundred yards below the ford . Throw your saddle horses across the river , and build a fire before you go to sleep , so we will have a beacon light to pilot us in , in case the cattle break into a run on scenting the water . The herd will get in a little after midnight , and after crossing , we 'll turn her loose just for luck . '' It did me good to hear the foreman say the herd was to be turned loose , for I had been in the saddle since three that morning , had ridden over eighty miles , and had now ten more in sight , while Honeyman would complete the day with over a hundred to his credit . We let the _ remuda _ take the lead in pulling out , so that the wagon mules could be spurred to their utmost in keeping up with the loose horses . Once they were clear of the herd , we let the cattle into the trail .