ten o'clock
In view of the possibility of a siege , it was not an article that any sane man would care to keep on the premises . Chris had gone round to these stores and had obtained an offer from each , and as he said that he intended to accept the lowest tender , it was offered to him at a price very much below what he would ordinarily have had to give for it . The cases were sewn up in canvas , on which was painted respectively , Tea , Sugar , Biscuits , and Rice . Travelling five hours and halting at ten o'clock at a farmhouse that was still tenanted , and again travelling from half-past three until eight , they made about twenty-five miles the first day . Then they encamped at a spot where there was a small spring and consequently good feed for the horses , and knee-haltering them and taking off their saddles they turned them loose . The natives had collected fuel as they went along , and a fire was soon made . When the kettle approached boiling , some slices of bacon , of which they had brought thirty pounds with them , were fried .