four o'clock in the afternoon
With the fighting men in front and the baggage behind , the troops moved slowly forward up the hill in front , and finally took up their position on a piece of flat ground whence they could see down the pass by which the Arabs expected the advance would be made . On the side of the hills commanding it they had thrown up small stone walls from which to fire . On the hilltops out of range large numbers of Arabs could be seen in constant motion , gesticulating and waving their arms . It was now four o'clock in the afternoon , and the general decided that as the real force of the enemy was unknown it would be imprudent to attempt to force the passage with only an hour and a half of daylight before him , consequently a halt for the night was ordered . A strong detachment of Mounted Infantry and sailors with their Gardner ascended a hill on the other side of the pass and set to work to build a small fort and mount the gun there . A company from each of the camel regiments extended to cover the front . The camels were all made to kneel , their legs being lashed at the knee so that they could not rise .