five in
the afternoon
The tall men therefore crossed and recrossed with the burdens , the short men swimming over . The passage across the bridge too was slow and tedious in the extreme . Some of the cross planks had been swept away , and each man had to feel every step of his way over . So tedious was the work that at five in the afternoon it became evident that it would be impossible for all the white troops to get across -- a process at once slow and dangerous -- before nightfall . The river was still rising , and it was a matter of importance that none should be left upon the other side at night , as the Ashantis might , for anything they could tell , be gathering in force in the rear . Consequently Sir Archibald Alison gave the order for the white troops to strip and to wade across taking only their helmets and guns . The clothes were made up in bundles and carried over by natives swimming , while others took their places below in case any of the men should be carried off their feet by the stream .