midnight
`` Some of the more ignorant might . But that is n't the point ; Caspard may have given them some military information of vast importance . You must remember we are in a territory that may be full of pitfalls for us , '' concluded the major . Ben thought but little of the ending of this speech at the time , but had good cause to remember it before midnight . On they pushed past the picket guard and on to a side road which it was said would bring them around to the north side of Maasin . Both were in fairly good humor by this time , and the major told many an anecdote of army life which made Ben laugh outright . The major saw that his companion was indeed `` blue , '' and was bound to dispel the blues if it could be done .