eight o’clock
However , it was not long before they submitted to this new service , for the onager , being less refractory than the zebra , is frequently put in harness in the mountainous regions of Southern Africa , and it has even been acclimatized in Europe , under zones of a relative coolness . On this day all the colony , except Pencroft who walked at the animals ' heads , mounted the cart , and set out on the road to Port Balloon . Of course they were jolted over the somewhat rough road , but the vehicle arrived without any accident , and was soon loaded with the case and rigging of the balloon . At eight o'clock that evening the cart , after passing over the Mercy bridge , descended the left bank of the river , and stopped on the beach . The onagers being unharnessed , were thence led to their stable , and Pencroft before going to sleep gave vent to his feelings in a deep sigh of satisfaction that awoke all the echoes of Granite House . The first week of January was devoted to the manufacture of the linen garments required by the colony . The needles found in the box were used by sturdy if not delicate fingers , and we may be sure that what was sewn was sewn firmly .