eight o'clock in the evening before
`` You must not think that , '' Lisle said , cheerily ; `` you must lie very quiet , and make up your mind that , as soon as it is possible , we shall be back here for you ; '' and then , without any more talk , he made his way to the edge of the path . There he made a long gash on the bark of a tree and , fifty yards farther , he made two similar gashes . Then , certain that he could find the place on his return , he went off at a trot along the path . It was eight o'clock in the evening before he reached camp . On the way , he had met with nothing that betokened danger ; there had been no voices in the woods . When about halfway to camp , he came across a number of dead bodies on the path and , looking into the bush , found many more scattered about . It was evident that the little British force had turned upon their assailants , and had effected a crushing defeat upon them .