five o'clock
But Allan could see that the strength of his men , and his own force as well , was diminishing faster than the burden . So , with a heavy heart , now half inclined to abandon the task and turn back , he surveyed the horizon for the last time that night in vain search for the landmark mountain of his hopes . Morning dawned again pitilessly hot and sun-parched . By five o'clock the party was under way , to make at least a few miles before the greatest heat should set in . Allan realized that this must be the crucial day . Either by nightfall he must sight the mountain or he must turn back . And with fever-burning eagerness he urged his limping men to greater speed , chafed at every delay , constantly examined the horizon , and with consuming wrath cursed the Horde which in its venomous hate had brought this anguish and disaster on his people .