four
o'clock
But the ardour of the men , now that the goal was almost in sight , was such that it was impossible to hold them back . In small pickets they climbed the steep hill-sides , penetrated through the groves of olive , fig and pomegranate trees which clothe the successive tiers of limestone terraces , and reached the high plateau above . But at every step upwards the hill-mist grew thicker , and , in spite of all attempts to keep together , the pickets of soldiers became split up . When four o'clock arrived , Sam and Jerry found themselves alone on the hills and completely ignorant of their bearings . The short winter day was drawing to a close , and they were in danger of being benighted among the Judean uplands on Christmas Eve . They determined to make a descent to the point from which they had started in the morning , but , after an hour 's wandering in the mist , found themselves no nearer their goal . Darkness was now creeping swiftly upon them , and they realised the dangers of a fall over one of the terraced cliffs .