midnight
Nur el-Tadhil shrugged his shoulders . `` The Mahdi has many relatives and can not remember all of them . '' For some time they rode in silence ; after which Idris again asked : `` How soon shall we arrive at Khartûm ? '' `` Before midnight , '' replied el-Tadhil , gazing at the stars which began to appear in the eastern part of the heavens . `` Shall we at that late hour be able to obtain food and fodder ? Since our last rest at noon we have not eaten anything . '' `` You will pass this night with me and I shall feed you in my house , but to-morrow in Omdurmân you will have to seek for food yourself , and I warn you in advance that this will not be an easy matter . ''