five in the afternoon
The river was some fifty yards across , but the mules only needed to swim about half this distance . The brothers kept beside them , placing one elbow on the saddles and holding their rifles and ammunition well above the water . They were soon across , and , mounting , followed the river down , letting the animals go their own pace , and sometimes walking beside them , as they wished to keep them fresh for the next day 's work . At five in the afternoon they saw smoke ahead of them , and , riding faster now , soon joined their companions , who hailed their arrival with shouts of joy . `` We have been terribly anxious about you , señors , '' Dias said , `` and regretted deeply that we deserted you . '' `` It was not desertion , Dias ; you were obeying orders , and were on duty guarding the baggage . There was really no cause for uneasiness ; we were certain that we could beat them off if they ventured to attack us . ''