midnight
before
A week was spent in crossing the country between the Concho and Brazos rivers . Not a day passed but Indian trails were cut , all heading southward , and on a branch of the Clear Fork we nearly ran afoul of an encampment of forty teepees and lean-tos , with several hundred horses in sight . But we never varied our course a fraction , passing within a quarter mile of their camp , apparently indifferent as to whether they showed fight or allowed us to pass in peace . Our bluff had the desired effect ; but we made it an object to reach Fort Griffin near midnight before camping . The Comanche and his ally were great respecters , not only of their own physical welfare , but of the Henri and Spencer rifle with which the white man killed the buffalo at the distance of twice the flight of an arrow . When every advantage was in his favor -- ambush and surprise -- Lo was a warrior bold ; otherwise he used discretion . Before leaving Fort Sumner an agreement had been entered into between my employers and the contractors for a third herd .