midnight
I 'll send you a catridge and cap for every word you write about Maria . '' `` It 's a go , '' said the delighted boy . `` I 'm goin ' to learn someway to write without bitin ' my tongue , an ' I 'll write you as many words every day as I want catridges to shoot off , so that I 'll have enough for the next Fourth o ' July , and kill all old Pete Walker 's snappin ' dogs besides . '' The boys were to leave on the midnight train . The bigger part of Si 's leave-taking seemed to be outside of his family , for he quit the house immediately after supper and did not leave Annabel 's side until he had just barely time to get back home , take leave of his weeping mother and help store in the spring wagon more than he and Shorty could carry of the good things she had provided for them . `` What 's this ? '' said Si to Shorty the next day at Jeffersonville , when they had reported to the Provost-Marshal , and had mustered before them the squad of recruits that they were to conduct to their regiment .