noon
By nightfall they were nearly through the defile . Lanterns were placed in the bow of the boat and , until long after Fergus was asleep , the men continued to work at their poles . When he woke up in the morning the boat was floating down a quiet river , with the plains of Saxony on either side , and the mountain range far astern . At noon they neared Dresden , and an hour later Fergus stepped ashore . He paid the men the sum arranged , and handed over to them the rest of his provisions , which would be sufficient to carry them far on their way back . He soon learnt that Marshal Keith was established in his old quarters , and made his way thither . He met two or three officers of his acquaintance , but no one recognized him in his present attire .