about three
in the morning
After that they kept to the woods , observing the utmost vigilance . At a bend in the road , they crept up behind an out-lying picket and , leaping on his back , buried a knife in his throat . Then the road was free before them and they no longer had to observe precaution ; they went ahead , laughing and whistling . It was about three in the morning when they reached a little Belgian village , where they knocked up a worthy farmer , who at once opened his barn to them ; they snuggled among the hay and slept soundly until morning . The sun was high in the heavens when Prosper awoke . As he opened his eyes and looked about him , while the two comrades were still snoring , he beheld their entertainer engaged in hitching a horse to a great carriole loaded with bread , rice , coffee , sugar , and all sorts of eatables , the whole concealed under sacks of charcoal , and a little questioning elicited from the good man the fact that he had two married daughters living at Raucourt , in France , whom the passage of the Bavarian troops had left entirely destitute , and that the provisions in the carriole were intended for them . He had procured that very morning the safe-conduct that was required for the journey .