nine o'clock
And the rain beat down on all three of them until they were drenched and numb , and their feet squelched in mud at every step . For all the darkness , Ranjoor Singh made note of the fact that they were following a wagon track , into which the wheels of a native cart had sunk deep times without number . Only native ox-carts leave a track like that . It must have been nine o'clock , and the babu was giving signs of nearly complete exhaustion , when they passed beyond a ring of trees into a clearing . They stood at the edge of the clearing in a shadow for about ten minutes , while the German watched catwise for signs of life . `` It is now , '' he said , tapping Ranjoor Singh 's chest , `` that you begin to be at my mercy . I assure you that the least disobedience on your part will mean your instant death ! ''