midnight
On the evening of the 11th , a starving soldier made his way down from the fort with this message : `` Governor broke out , seventeen days ago . Garrison rapidly diminishing by disease , can only last a few more days , on very reduced rations . '' Six star shells were fired , that night , to let the garrison know that help was coming , but they never saw them . At midnight , the last contingent from Northern Nigeria , the Kwisa garrison , and an escort of two companies of the West African contingent arrived . This brought the force up to the regulation strength of one battalion , on its war footing . At sunset the officers were called , and orders were given for the next day 's work . The direction of the march was , even at that moment , a profound secret .