two o'clock
I could take horses or cattle , or even press men into my service , if I thought desirable , for the purpose of capturing the bushrangers . Hardly a moment of preparation was allowed me , beyond the choice of twelve men , whom I knew I could rely upon ; and even while I was conversing with the superintendent , another messenger arrived with the news of fresh butcheries , more bloody and brutal than the last . `` At eight on the evening of the day that I was ordered to take my departure , my troop was leaving Melbourne on the road leading towards Ballarat , in which direction I learned the convicts were travelling . `` At two o'clock we halted at a cattle station ; and while some of our men changed saddles from our tired horses to fresh ones , the remainder cooked a kettle of coffee , and broiled a piece of beef , to stay our stomachs during our long ride . From the stockman we obtained some information , as the bushrangers had visited his cattle station two days before , selected what animals they wished , and then shot the companion of the man we were conversing with . `` At seven o'clock we again halted at a cattle station , but for ten minutes we could not find a soul to answer our questions . We searched the hut and an adjoining piece of woods , in hope of finding somebody who would give us a little information .