midnight
She recognized it as made by skates gliding over the ice . Rising to her feet , she remarked , with a smile : `` I think I will give them a surprise . '' And she did . The meeting was a happy one , and before the stroke of midnight all three were at home , where they found the mother anxiously awaiting their return and greatly relieved to learn that despite their stirring experience no harm had befallen any member of the little party . And now comes a change of scene and incident . Hugh Whitney returned to his Maine home a few weeks after the stirring adventures of his children and Monteith Sterry with the wolves . He was so pleased with the western country that he made his decision to remove thither .