about midnight
`` We must be careful here , for there are lots of mines in the neighbourhood . '' After walking for another three or four hours several large buildings were seen among the trees in the valley , and these it was certain belonged to one or other of the mines . When it became dark they descended still farther , and kept down until they came upon a road . This they followed until about midnight they came upon a small village . They found , as they had hoped , bread and other provisions upon several of the window-sills , and thankfully stowing these away again struck off to the hills . `` This is capital , '' Godfrey said , as after getting well into the forest they lighted a fire , threw themselves down beside it , and made a hearty meal . `` If we could rely upon doing as well as this always I should not mind how long our journey lasted .