six o'clock
It had the effect of bringing the Boers scurrying down again to their trenches . Our fellows marched in open order and worked their way nearly down to Colenso , which was more strongly garrisoned than it had been at the time of our last attack . No doubt they had seen us preparing to advance , and strongly reinforced the garrison . Our guns were taken a long way down , and at six o'clock their trenches were bombarded ; then it came on to rain , and the Boers ceased to fire , and at seven o'clock our men turned into camp . The firing in Ladysmith had ceased some time before that . '' `` And what had taken place there ? '' Chris asked anxiously , `` for I know the place has not fallen or we should have heard of it . ''