ten o'clock
They then mounted their horses , -- Hubert having to be lifted up , for his leg was now very stiff and sore , -- and then began to retrace their steps , keeping a hundred yards or so to the west of the track by which they had come . They rode in single file , and they had taken the precaution of fastening a piece of tape round their horses ' nostrils and mouth , to prevent their snorting should they approach any of their own species . The night was dark , but the stars shone out clear and bright . At starting , Mr. Hardy had opened his watch , and had felt by the hands that it was ten o'clock . After some time he felt again . It was just half an hour from the time of their starting . ` Now , boys , we are somewhere close to the place of your fight .