"How long do you think it will be before all who intend to come can
join us?" Mr. Hardy asked.
There was a pause; then one of the Jamiesons said:
"Judging by the time your message reached us, you must have set off
before seven. Most of us, on the receipt of the message, forwarded
it by fresh messengers on further; but of course some delay
occurred in so doing, especially as many of us may probably have
been out on the plains when the message arrived. The persons to
whom we sent might also have been out. Our friends who would be
likely to obey the summons at once all live within fifteen miles or
so. That makes thirty miles, going and returning. Allowing for the
loss of time I have mentioned, we should allow five hours. That
would bring it on to twelve o'clock."
There was a general murmur of assent.
"In that case," Mr. Hardy said, "I propose that we eat a meal as
hearty as we can before starting. Charley, tell Terence to bring
the horses with the provisions here."
The animals were now brought up, and Mr. Hardy found that, in
addition to the charqui and biscuit, Mrs. Hardy had sent a large
supply of cold meat which happened to be in the larder, some bread,
a large stock of tea and sugar, a kettle, and some tin mugs.
The cold meat and bread afforded an ample meal, which was much
needed by those who had come away without breakfast.
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