three
in the morning
It was his first kill and put the Professor in high good humor . He explained all about it that night as they sat around the camp fire . Then the boys made him tell the story over again . Nance took the first watch that night , remaining on duty until three in the morning , when he called Tad . The latter was wide awake on the instant , the mark of a good woodsman . Taking his rifle , he strolled out near the mustangs , where he sat down on a rock . Tad was shivering in the chill morning air , but after a time he overcame that .