nearly midnight
When the sun had lost its power , they proceeded on their way again . Their start had been timed so that , for the first week , they would have moonlight ; and would , therefore , be able to travel at night until they arrived at Seringapatam . It was considered that it was only necessary to do this for the first two or three nights as , after that , the tale that they were coming from a village near the frontier , and were on their way to join Tippoo 's army , would seem natural enough to any villagers who might question them . They continued their course until nearly midnight , by which time they were both completely fatigued , and , choosing a spot sheltered by bushes , lay down to sleep . It took another two days before they were clear of the broken country , and the greater portion of this part of the journey they performed in daylight . Occasionally they saw , in the distance , the small forts which guarded every road to the plateau . To these they always gave a very wide berth , as although , according to the terms of peace , they should all have been evacuated , they might still be occupied by parties of Tippoo 's troops .