ten o'clock
I am told that until you reach there the river is navigable , and that the current is so swift much of the way that you can make rapid progress . At that village you will have to leave your boat , but from that place you will find a clearly marked path to Ilo Ilo . `` The quicker you start , the better ; and , as I have told you , I trust it to you to see that the general has the dispatch before the Utica leaves port . '' It was ten o'clock in the forenoon when the sergeant had been sent for to come to headquarters . Half an hour later he had started , the letter tightly wrapped in a bit of rubber blanket before he had placed it inside his jacket , for he had already had enough experience with the native boats to know how unstable they would be in the current of a rapid river . The five miles from Pasi to the river were easily made , in spite of the fact that it was midday , for there was a good path , which , for nearly all the distance , was shaded by lofty trees . When he reached the river the sergeant bought from a man whom he found there a native `` banca , '' for three dollars , a sum of money which would make a native rich .