about eight o’clock in the morning
Dingaan is our friend , not our enemy . So let us take the gifts that fortune gives us and be thankful . Come , march . '' This he said about eight o'clock in the morning . We strolled through the gates of the Great Kraal , most of the Boers , who , as usual , had piled their arms under the two milk trees , lounging along in knots of four or five , laughing and chatting as they went . I have often thought since , that although every one of them there , except myself , was doomed within an hour to have taken the dreadful step from time into eternity , it seems strange that advancing fate should have thrown no shadow on their hearts . On the contrary , they were quite gay , being extremely pleased at the successful issue of their mission and the prospect of an immediate return to their wives and children .