three o’clock of Monday morning
After that the spinney just off the road , and the welcome presence of Tony , Hastings , and the horses . Ffoulkes got down in order to make sure of the way . He walked at the horse 's head now , fearful lest he missed the cross-roads and the sign-post . The horse was getting over-tired ; it had covered fifteen kilometres , and it was close on three o'clock of Monday morning . Another hour went by in absolute silence . Ffoulkes and Blakeney took turns at the horse 's head . Then at last they reached the cross-roads ; even through the darkness the sign-post showed white against the surrounding gloom .