nearly one o’clock in the morning
The two men were almost of a height ; and , though Curtis looked the bigger man , I am inclined to think that the difference was more imaginary than real , the fact being that , although he was plumper and rounder , he was not really bigger , except in the arm . Umslopogaas had , comparatively speaking , thin arms , but they were as strong as wire ropes . At any rate , when they both stood , axe in hand , invested in the brown mail , which clung to their mighty forms like a web garment , showing the swell of every muscle and the curve of every line , they formed a pair that any ten men might shrink from meeting . It was now nearly one o'clock in the morning , and the spies reported that , after having drunk the blood of the oxen and eaten enormous quantities of meat , the Masai were going to sleep round their watchfires ; but that sentries had been posted at each opening of the kraal . Flossie , they added , was sitting not far from the wall in the centre of the western side of the kraal , and by her were the nurse and the white donkey , which was tethered to a peg . Her feet were bound with a rope , and warriors were lying about all round her . As there was absolutely nothing further that could be done then we all took some supper , and went to lie down for a couple of hours .