five o'clock
The boys had been busy all day , and they were tired enough to doze off in the saddle as they went forward , the white dust covering them all with a thick coating . Hour after hour they plodded on , at intervals wiping out the nostrils of the horses and cattle with a wet cloth by way of refreshment . Von Hofe chatted intermittently with Schoverling , who guided the march by compass , but the boys were too weary for talk . At five o'clock they halted on the edge of a dry water-course . They had not omitted to fetch along a good supply of fodder for the cattle , which was loaded in the wagon to the very top of the tilt . The horses were given a few swallows of water each , the Masai dined on roast meat about their fires , while the four explorers and the Indians made an excellent repast on cold meat and biscuits with tea . Biscuits were Charlie 's specialty , and before the start he had made a good supply , as their flour was running low .