daybreak, six o'clock in the
morning
`` To our papas ! '' `` If God permits , '' Stas answered gravely . Nevertheless , they did not start until several days after this conversation . The departure , after a short prayer in which they warmly commended themselves to God , took place at daybreak , six o'clock in the morning . Stas rode at the head , on horseback , preceded by Saba . After him the King ambled gravely , moving his ears and bearing on his powerful back a canvas palanquin and in the palanquin Nell with Mea ; they were followed by Linde 's horses one after another , tied together with a long palm rope and carrying numerous packs ; and the procession closed with little Nasibu on the donkey , as fat as himself . On account of the early hour , the heat was not at first oppressive , though the day was clear and from beyond the Karamojo Mountains the sun rolled magnificently , not shaded by a cloudlet .