midnight
Neilson was not , however , mortally hurt . The bullet had coursed through the region of his shoulder , missing his heart and lungs , and although he was all but unconscious , they had every reason to believe that a few weeks of rest would see him well again . Beatrice bathed the wound , bandaged it the best she could , then covered him up warmly and let him go to sleep . And the time came at last , long past the midnight hour , that she crept once more to Ben 's side . There was little indeed for them to say . The stress of the night had taken from them almost all desire to talk . But Ben took her hand in his feebly , and held it against his lips .