about three o'clock in the morning
But the fellow will guide us aright , for his own sake . He is quick enough to calculate the chances . '' Occasionally one or other of us cantered forward and rode a short distance by his side , while Jacques watched him constantly with the eyes of a hawk . But the fellow who was keen enough to understand that treachery would result in his own death , whatever else happened , led us very carefully across country and right away from the beaten tracks until about three o'clock in the morning , when he came to a halt on the top of a wooded hill . `` Very softly ! '' he whispered , `` we are in the rear of the army , but there may be some sentries at hand . When day breaks we shall see the camp almost at our feet . ''