ten o'clock
Rice , grain , and fowls were purchased for the soldiers , and forage for the horses , and after seeing that all were well provided for , the two officers went to a room that had been placed at their service , in the principal house in the village . Ibrahim justified his assertion that he was a good cook , by turning out an excellent curry . By the time they had finished this it was getting dark , and after again visiting the troopers , and seeing that their own horses were fed and well groomed , they retired to bed . An early start was made , and at ten o'clock they approached Savandroog . It was one of the most formidable of the hill forts of Mysore , and stood upon the summit of an enormous mass of granite , covering a base of eight miles in circuit , and rising in ragged precipices to the height of 2,500 feet . The summit of the rock was divided by a deep chasm into two peaks , each of which was crowned with strong works , and capable of separate defence . The lower part of the hill was , wherever ascent seemed possible , protected by walls , one behind the other .