three o'clock
That is the utmost allowance I should give . The camels will have to go a long time without water , and the less you put on their backs the better . You know what a difference a few pounds makes to a horse ; and I suppose it must be the same thing with them . '' At three o'clock on the afternoon of the 30th the force intended for the desert march paraded , and after marching past Lord Wolseley moved off in solid formation , thirty camels abreast . The total force consisted of 73 officers , 1212 men and natives , and 2091 camels . The whole camp had turned out to see the departure of the column , and Edgar , with his helmet pressed down low over his eyes , watched Rupert as he rode after Sir Herbert Stewart , and Easton and Skinner with the Guards Camel Corps . The Heavies had been much disappointed at not forming part of the first advance , and especially at their camels being taken for baggage animals ; but they consoled themselves by the fact that the native spies all reported that there were no bodies of the enemy between Korti and Gakdul , and it was not likely therefore that there would be any fighting until the whole force moved forward together from Gakdul to Metemmeh .