eight
o'clock
There was little conversation on the way . The two Spaniards made and smoked cigarettes continually ; and Terence endeavoured to imitate them , by addressing the endearing words they used to their animals , having learned the names of the four of which he was in charge . At first they did not respond to this strange voice but , as they became accustomed to it , each answered , when its name was called , by quickening its pace and by a sharp whisk of the tail , that showed it understood that it was addressed . Terence knew that his escape would not be discovered until eight o'clock , when the doors were opened and the prisoners assembled in the yard for the roll call . Should any pursuit be organized , which was unlikely , it would be in the direction of Ciudad ; as it might be supposed that an escaped prisoner would naturally make for the nearest spot where he could join his friends . One prisoner more or less would , however , make but little difference ; and the authorities would probably content themselves with sending a message by a trooper , to all the towns and villages on that road , to arrest any suspicious persons travelling without proper papers . On the line they were pursuing , the risk of interference was very small .