two o'clock in the morning
We accordingly settled that we were to set out about three hours before dawn , which would give us time to get beyond the enemy , and out of their sight , when we should have the advantage of daylight for seeing our way . I confess I felt more out of spirits than usual when I bade my friend Juan farewell . A presentiment of evil oppressed me , as I thought of the dangers by which he was beset . It was shortly after two o'clock in the morning , when Mr Laffan and I , having our horses ' hoofs muffled , and followed , of course , by Lion , led them down to the river ; crossing which , we took the road we had before followed for some distance . We then turned to the left , along the base of the hills . Between these and the hamlet occupied by the enemy , it was possible that patrols might be met with , and if so we had agreed to mount and cut our way through them . As we were on foot , we hoped that we should not be perceived until close upon the enemy ; we should then have a good chance of escaping .