midnight
At a sign from him the boy mounted the horse Stanley had ridden into camp and rode rapidly off across the range . While he was gone , Stanley outlined his plans to his wife . With good luck they could intercept the auto stage , that passed down the road every day , at a point some thirty miles distant . From there it was seventy-five miles to town which they would reach that night in time to catch the midnight train to the nearest Pasteur institute . `` But the sheep , Jim ? '' and the woman looked anxiously out on the range . `` We ca n't leave them all alone , you better let me make the ride by myself and you stay here , for I can get through all right . ''