four in the morning
Rawdon was missing from the column when it camped the first night out , on the return , and only caught them by a daring night ride through the Sioux country when they were two days ' march beyond . His captain , Raymond , had sternly rebuked him and promised him further punishment when they reached the regiment , but Lanier had heard of it and interceded , thereby making Rawdon still more his friend . But now the heart of `` Dad '' Ennis was hot against him , for fear that what Barker said might all be true : that Rawdon had wrecked an old man 's heart and home , and ruined an old man 's beloved daughter . With just two troopers at his back , toward four in the morning , big Jim went spurring on through the dim moonlight , town and station far behind , following a meandering sleigh and wagon track across the wide , dreary upland , riding , as a rule , parallel with the railway , while such sleighs as tried the journey had evidently been making many a detour . Snow there was in abundance in the coulées and ravines , snow in sheets in the lee of every little ridge or hummock , but elsewhere the icy sod was swept hard and clean , and the sharp hoofs rang as though they struck macadam . Three miles out two `` rigs '' were passed , westward bound , filled with town folk who had been to Arena for the dance . Had they seen or heard aught of Mr. and Mrs. Osborn ?