about an hour after midnight
Farewell ; perhaps we may meet in the fight ; fly not to the Stars , but wait for me , I pray , white men . '' With this shaft of sarcasm he retired , and almost immediately the sun sank . That night was a busy one , for weary as we were , so far as was possible by the moonlight all preparations for the morrow 's fight were continued , and messengers were constantly coming and going from the place where we sat in council . At last , about an hour after midnight , everything that could be done was done , and the camp , save for the occasional challenge of a sentry , sank into silence . Sir Henry and I , accompanied by Ignosi and one of the chiefs , descended the hill and made a round of the pickets . As we went , suddenly , from all sorts of unexpected places , spears gleamed out in the moonlight , only to vanish again when we uttered the password . It was clear to us that none were sleeping at their posts .