about seven o'clock
I saluted , sprang into the saddle , dashed past the Peruvian infantry , down the hill , and into the defile . Here I found the main body of our cavalry retiring in accordance with Bolivar 's command , and heard that Miller , with a squadron of Peruvians , was still following the Royalists . It was quite dark now , and the route was covered with hillocks ; but I rode on swiftly , trusting to luck , and at length came up with the general , who had halted in his pursuit . On receiving Bolivar 's message he immediately gave orders to retire , and about seven o'clock we reached our camping-ground . Fortunately we managed to collect a little fuel , for the night was so intensely cold that few of the seriously wounded , though receiving every possible attention , survived its rigours . Even lying close to the fire and enveloped in our ponchos we shivered . A surgeon had sewn up the cut in Alzura 's face , and we gave him the most sheltered place , and the one nearest the fire .