about eleven o’clock
They had forty odd miles to cover , but the guides , or rather the guard , would only consent to their outspanning once , which they did on the open veldt a little before sunset . At sundown they inspanned again , and started across the darkening veldt . The road was in a shocking state , and until the moon rose , which it did about nine o'clock , the journey was both difficult and dangerous . After that things were a little better ; and at last , about eleven o'clock , they reached Heidelberg . The town seemed almost deserted . Evidently the great body of the Boers were at the front , and had only left a guard at their seat of government . `` Where are we to outspan ? ''