midnight
The women shared one side of the lean-to , grateful for the dry blankets ; the men , tired from their heavy loads , crept in noiselessly in their sock feet beside them and were soon asleep . The old dog waited patiently until they were settled , then entered and lay down in the only space left . Back of them , far away over the horizon of the wilderness , the sky was pink . Alice Thayor slept soundly until midnight , then she lay awake until the first glimmer of dawn . She half rose upon her elbow and looked calmly at the face of her husband asleep next to her . It seemed strange to her to be sleeping next to him . His face was drawn and haggard ; he breathed heavily .