about five in the afternoon
called out Mrs. Yellett . `` Do you want to lose 'em again ? '' So , curtailing the muscular contraction indicative of his pleasure , the Infidel again took his place among the bed-quilts and the journey was resumed . It was now about five in the afternoon . The heat , which had been oppressive all day , suddenly relaxed its blistering grip , and a keenly penetrating dampness , not unlike that of a sea-fog , came from some unknown quarter of the arid wastes and chilled the three travellers to the marrow . The horses flung up their heads and sniffed it , rearing and plunging as if they had scent of something menacing . Across the horizon a dark cloud scudded , no bigger than your hand .