three o’clock in the morning
`` Lions ! '' said Mr. Clifford , jumping up and throwing dead wood on the fire till it burnt to a bright blaze . After that all sleep became impossible , for although the lions did not attack them , having once winded the horses they would not go away , but continued wandering round the kopje , grunting and growling . This went on till abut three o'clock in the morning , when at last the beasts took their departure , for they heard them roaring in the distance . Now that they seemed safe , having first made up the fire , they tried to get some rest . When , as it appeared to her , Benita had been asleep but a little while , she was awakened by a new noise . It was still dark , but the starlight showed her that the horses were quite quiet ; indeed , one of them was lying down , and the other eating some green leaves from the branches of the tree to which it was tethered .