eight in the morning
`` Yes , '' said Swart Piet , striking his breast with pride , `` if I desire a fruit I pluck it as my father did before me . But now go you and sleep , for to-morrow you will need all your wit and strength . '' When the herd Zinti had heard this talk he crept away , heading straight for the farm , but his foot was so bad , and he was so weak from want of food , that he could only travel at the pace of a lame ox , now hopping upon one leg and now crawling upon his knees . In this fashion it was that at length , about half-past eight in the morning , he reached the house , or rather the hut of Sihamba , for she had sent him out , and therefore to her , after the Kaffir fashion , he went to make report . Now , when he came to Sihamba , he greeted her and asked for a little food , which she gave him . Then he began to tell his story , beginning as natives do at the first of it , which in his case were all the wanderings of the cow which he had followed , so that although she hurried him much , many minutes went by before he came to that part of the tale which told of what he had heard in the wood some eight hours before . So soon as he began to speak of this , Sihamba stopped him , and calling to a man who lingered near , she bade him bring to her Jan 's famous young horse , the roan _ schimmel _ , bridled but not saddled .