midnight
Kendrick and Cristy had gone as far as the deserted lumber camp on their first day 's jaunt in Svenson 's canoe ; they had been all over the place , little dreaming that so shortly it was to be occupied by these doubtful characters , or that he was to return to the spot on an errand of such consequence . Not far from the portage at the foot of the rapids there was an old logging road , if they could but find it in the dark . The last mile could be covered more quickly by this route than by following the tump trail past the rapids , and it would lead them straight to the camp . The moon would not be up until after midnight and the tote road promised a more noiseless approach for the preliminary reconnoitring that was necessary to carry out the detective 's plan . It was McCorquodale 's suggestion that they creep down on the camp and , if possible , get Stiles away first . After that they would go after Weiler . If they waited until the four men were asleep or were lucky enough to catch their man far enough away from the others to permit of capturing him without too much commotion , it ought to be feasible to carry him into the woods .