midnight
As the boys had not returned an hour later , I resumed my digging while the Woodruffs went over to visit with Yank , who was now out of bed . Evening came , with no sign of our friends . We turned in at last . Some time after midnight we were awakened by the shuffling and lowing of driven cattle , and went out into the moonlight to see our six oxen , just released from herding , plunging their noses thirstily into the little stream from the spring . Five figures on horseback sat motionless in the background behind them . When the cattle had finished drinking , the horsemen , riding in two couples and one single , turned them into the flat , and then came over to our camp . After they had approached within plain sight we saw that the single horseman was Cal Marsh ; and that Johnny and Old each led an animal on which a man was tied , his arms behind him , his feet shackled beneath the horse 's barrel .