midnight
As these sentiments commended themselves to his followers the sheik 's plans were carried out . The unfortunate trader and his wife , who had been cowering in a little chamber since the sheik and his party had unceremoniously taken possession of the rest of the house , were called in and informed that their guests were about to leave them , and were ordered to close the gate after them and on no account to open it until morning . The party then set to work to cook a large supply of cakes for the journey . A little before midnight they sallied out , and making their way noiselessly through the streets issued out near the river at a point where the walls that surrounded the other sides of the town were wanting . There were several boats moored against the banks , and choosing one of them they allowed it to drift quietly down the river until some distance below the town , and then getting out the oars rowed to the other side of the river and landed below the large town of Shendy . They made a wide detour to get round the town , travelling at a long swinging trot that soon tried Edgar 's wind and muscles to the utmost . He was not encumbered by much clothing , as before leaving he had been made to strip and to wrap himself up in a native cloth .