midnight
`` Bravely spoken , monsieur ! '' exclaimed Boulanger , thoroughly restored to good-humour by these words . `` Monsieur will pardon me for having had my misgivings as to the length of the marches that might be accomplished by -- by a personage like yourself , not used to this kind of work . Well , then , I propose that we halt at midnight ; that will be enough for a start , and it will bring us to good camping ground . I think we had better do the greater part of our work by night , and rest and sleep during the heat of the day . We shall do more , besides escaping notice in case there should be any scouts , either white or red , or marauding parties prowling about , as is sometimes the case near the border . '' `` I should have thought there was small chance of meeting any one in these interminable woods , through which , as a matter of taste , I should prefer to travel by daylight , '' replied Isidore .