about noon
They were well aware that he was on the watch , and it might be well that they should know also how close his watch was kept . He took the German and Jacko with him , but left them with their horses about a mile on the Boolabong side of his own fence , nigh to the extreme boundary of the Debatable Land . They knew his whistle , and were to ride to him at once should he call them . He had left the house about noon , saying that he would be home to dinner -- which , however , on such occasions , was held to be a feast movable over a wide space of time . But on this occasion the women expected him to come early , as it was his intention to be out again as soon as it should be dark . Mrs. Growler was asked to have the dinner ready at six . During the day Mrs. Heathcote was backward and forward in the kitchen .