eight o'clock
In the meantime two companies of the troops on the Prah were ordered to proceed , instantly , to the relief of Kwisa , under the command of Captain Melliss and , to Lisle 's satisfaction , some of his company were to form part of the force . They started at two in the afternoon , but it was four before they got across the Prah ; and they could only march ten miles that evening , which they did through a pouring rain . An early start was made , next morning . By eight o'clock they reached Fumsu , which was held by a company of soldiers under Quartermaster Sergeant Thomas ; who informed them that all the troops ahead were perilously situated , short of food and ammunition , and crippled with casualties . He tried to dissuade them from going farther , saying : `` You are simply walking into a death trap . It is not fighting , it is murder . I am sure you will never get there , with only a hundred men and all these carriers . ''