noon
But , as Swinton observed , there was little chance of their being disturbed by lions or other animals , as they were so distant from water , and there was no game near them upon which the wild beasts prey ; and so it proved , for during the whole night they did not even hear the cry of a hyena or a jackal . At the first gleaming of light the oxen were again yoked , with the hopes of their being able to gain the Val River by night . The relay oxen were now put to , to relieve those which appeared to suffer most . At noon the heat was dreadful , and the horses , which could not support the want of water as the oxen could , were greatly distressed . They continued for about two hours more , and then perceived a few low trees . Begum , who had been kept without water , that she might exert herself to find it , started off as fast as she could , followed by Omrah . After running to the trees , they altered their course to the eastward , toward some ragged rocks .