six o'clock
`` The English are a great people , '' he said , stroking his beard ; then , issuing from his tent , he told the news . Like wildfire it ran through the camp , and as none of the thousands gathered there had his feelings of gratitude and relief to soften their anger and disappointment , the fury of the multitude was unbounded . With a wild rush they made for the gate-almost blocked with their dead-scoured the little village , and soon discovered the hole through which the besieged had escaped . Then with wild yells three thousand horsemen set off in pursuit ; but it was six o'clock now , and the fugitives had got seven hours ' start . The Rajah of Bithri 's contingent took no part in the pursuit . On issuing from his tent he had , after telling the news , briefly given orders for his tents to be struck and for all his troops to return at once to the castle , toward which he himself , accompanied by his bodyguard , set out on his elephant of state . Major Warrener and his troops had no fear of pursuit .