nine o'clock
Ned and Dick were fairly fitted . They halted for the night near the river , about ten miles above Delhi . In the morning they were off early . By nine o'clock they stood on the bank of the river , five miles higher up . The river is wide , or rather the bed of the river is wide , half a mile at least ; this in the rainy season is full to the brim , but at other times the stream is not more than half that width . After crossing the river they would have fifteen miles still to traverse to arrive at Meerut ; and it was probable that the whole intervening country was in the hands of the Sepoys . `` Had we not better keep this side of the river for a bit , father ? ''