about eleven
o’clock
We should pray for a disposition like that -- it makes life more pleasant . By the time that the horses had eaten their forage and Mouti had forced the bits into their reluctant mouths , the angry splendour of the sunset faded , and the quiet night was falling over the glowing veldt like the pall on one scarce dead . Fortunately for the travellers , there was a bright half moon , and by its light John managed to direct the cart over many a weary mile . On he went for hour after hour , keeping his tired horses to the collar as best he could , till at last , about eleven o'clock , he saw the lights of Heidelberg before him , and knew that the question of whether or no his journey was at an end would speedily be decided for him . However , there was nothing for it but to go on and take his chance of slipping through . Presently he crossed a little stream , and distinguished the shape of a cart just ahead , around which men and a couple of lanterns were moving . No doubt , John thought to himself , it was the Bishop , who had been stopped by the Boers .