eight o'clock
Teddy , being in the fullest confidence of his Chief , was present when instructions were accordingly given to Vooda , who was directed to start early next morning for the kraal of the Chief of the Kwesas , in Pondoland . When the offices were closed for the day , Teddy went home to his hut , and it was noticed by one who met him on the road that his manner was very preoccupied , and his walk unusually slow . Shortly afterwards he was seen to stroll over to the police camp , and go straight to Vooda 's hut . At eight o'clock that evening Vooda visited Teddy 's dwelling , and a long and serious conversation ensued . This was varied by a series of experiments of a nature so striking that even Vooda was startled . At about ten o'clock a stranger passing noticed strange flashes lighting up the back of the hut behind the reed fence . Shortly before eleven Vooda returned to camp , carrying a small satchel which contained a packet of lycopodium powder , a piece of potassium about as large as a walnut , and a number of whitish lumps about an inch in diameter , such as are known amongst practitioners of parlour magic variously as `` serpents ' eggs '' or `` Pharaoh 's serpents . ''