ten o'clock
No doubt each of the pots contained a quantity of food . Surely if he brought his comrades to the spot , and they fell upon the camp suddenly , with loud cries and the noise of firearms , they might strike panic into the savages , and at least have time to possess themselves of the contents of the pots . He looked at his watch . It was past ten o'clock . He could return more quickly than he came , and , if he did not lose his way , would regain his camp within half-an-hour after midnight . There would be plenty of time for the whole party to reach the savages ' encampment before the dawn rendered it dangerous . Moving away slowly until he was out of earshot , he then walked as quickly as he could back through the forest .