about an hour after midnight
To accept of food and drink from his enemies in his present humiliating position -- bound and dragged along like a slave -- was a degradation to which he scorned to submit . On Golah contemptuously refusing the proffered cup of water , the Arab who offered it simply ejaculated , `` Thank God ! '' and then drank it himself . The well was reached about an hour after midnight ; and after quenching their thirst , the slaves were allowed to go to rest and sleep , -- a privilege they stood sorely in need of having been over thirty hours afoot , upon their cheerless and arduous journey . On waking up the next morning , our adventurers were gratified with a bit of intelligence communicated by the Krooman : that they were to have a day of rest . A camel was also to be killed for food . The Arabs were going to divide amongst themselves the slaves taken from Golah ; and the opportunity was not to be lost of recruiting their strength for a long journey .