about four in
the afternoon
On the morning of the day he made all his preparations very carefully . In view of an absence of some hours , he provided himself with a good packet of sandwiches and a flask of spirits . He then set out for Fouranbuie Inn , a dreary hostel about four miles distant from the foot of the mountain . There he made a substantial meal , and about four in the afternoon started on his quest . He had resolved to ride off from the inn on his bicycle , ostensibly toward a village farther on ; then to dismount at the foot of Ben Sgurrach , and , hiding his machine in some bushes , to start the climb as dusk fell . Jock , as he had found out , was accustomed to approach from another direction when returning from work . The January day was already closing when Bonar began the ascent .