midnight
I had a pipe , but no tobacco ; the Major filled my pipe , purring contentedly ; a soldier , at a sign from him , took Mount and Murphy to the nearest fire , where there was a gill of grog and plenty of tobacco . I roused Elerson , who gaped , bolted his pie with a single mighty effort , and stumbled off after his comrades . Major Drummond squatted down cross-legged before the smudge , lighting his corn-cob pipe from a bit of glowing moss , and leaned back contentedly , crossing his arms behind his head . `` I 'm tired , too , '' he said ; `` we march again at midnight . If it 's no secret , I should like to know what 's going on ahead there . '' `` It 's no secret , '' I said , soberly ; `` the Senecas and Cayugas are harrying the Oneidas ; the renegades are riding the forest , murdering women and infants . St. Leger is firing bombs at Stanwix , and Visscher is holding German Flatts with some Caughnawaga militia . ''