Two hours after midnight
No loss of goods or life , but much of time ! The caravan went on , that with laden beasts must move at best much like a tortoise . That night the rest was shortened . Two hours after midnight and the strings of camels were moving again , the asses and mules so monstrously misshapen with bales of goods , the horses and horsemen and those afoot . At dawn , not these Bedouins , but another roving band , harassed them . Time was running like water from a cracked pitcher . This day they cleared the robber bands .