about one o'clock in the morning
The ponies , however , turned out to be good animals , and as the lads were at least a couple of stones lighter than the average Boer , they could not be overtaken unless some of the ponies happened to be a good deal better than these . After riding at full speed for eight or nine miles , they broke into a walk , stopping every few minutes to listen . They knew that they would be able to hear the sound of pursuit at least a mile away , and as their ponies would start fresh again , they were able to take things quietly . So sometimes cantering sometimes walking , they reached the river at about one o'clock in the morning . On the opposite bank stood the little village of Tugela Ferry . Here there was a drift , and there was no occasion to use the ferry-boat except when the river was swollen by rain . It now reached only just up to the ponies ' bellies ; they therefore crossed without the least difficulty , and after passing through the village , left the road , and struck off across the country to the south-west .