two o’clock
Ferguson expected at every moment to see Joe spring up out of some thicket , flying for his life , and calling for help . Were he free , they could pick him up without trouble ; were he a prisoner , they could rescue him by repeating the manoeuvre they had practised to save the missionary , and he would soon be with his friends again ; but nothing was seen , not a sound was heard . The case seemed desperate . About half-past two o'clock , the Victoria hove in sight of Tangalia , a village situated on the eastern shore of Lake Tchad , where it marks the extreme point attained by Denham at the period of his exploration . The doctor became uneasy at this persistent setting of the wind in that direction , for he felt that he was being thrown back to the eastward , toward the centre of Africa , and the interminable deserts of that region . `` We must absolutely come to a halt , '' said he , `` and even alight . For Joe 's sake , particularly , we ought to go back to the lake ; but , to begin with , let us endeavor to find an opposite current . ''