midnight
A bugle rang out shrilly from somewhere in the courtyard ; a stentorian voice barked out certain orders , and the Peruvian guards closed up round their captives . Then , just as dusk was falling , the gates were thrown open , and the column of three hundred men marched out of Lima castle into the broad streets , on the road to Sorata . Nothing could be done that night , Jim decided ; and a week elapsed before he could even speak to his companions upon the subject which was uppermost in his mind . Then , one evening , shortly before midnight , when the vigilance of the guards had somewhat relaxed , Jim found his opportunity . He softly wakened the man next to him , and whispered earnestly to him for about ten minutes . The Chilian officer listened intently , and then awoke his companion in turn and passed the idea on to him . Thus the `` word '' percolated through the sleeping camp , and before morning every one of the Chilians who could be trusted had been informed of Jim 's plan , and had agreed to be on the watch for the signal which the young Englishman had promised to give them upon the very first opportunity which presented itself as being likely to promise success .