twelve o'clock
Rush after rush was made , but the head of each melted away , as soon as the fatal spot was reached . At last , after three fruitless attempts , the helio flashed back to the general that the position was impregnable , and that further attempts would be but a useless waste of life . Matters were looking serious . It was twelve o'clock , and the enemy still held their position . General Yeatman-Biggs realized that a check would seriously alter the course of the campaign , and he told General Kempster that the summit must be taken , at any cost . The latter started at once , taking with him the Gordons and 3rd Sikhs . It took the fresh troops the best part of an hour to climb up ; and when the five regiments of infantry , the Highlanders , English , Sikhs , and Ghoorkhas , stood massed in the nullah , General Kempster helioed to the guns , asking three minutes ' concentrated fire on the summit .