three o'clock
Dick 's jaw dropped , and his eyes dilated widely , as the colonel now walked sharply away . The barrack yard was thronged as the colonel hurried out , thankful that the terrible disaster had not been made awful by any loss of life ; and for the next hour he was one of the most active in trying to allay the alarm , and soothing the frightened girls and their chaperones , who were now the occupants of the quarters where the various officers ' wives were doing their best to play hostess to the torn and dishevelled beings who had sought shelter beneath their roof . As for the square in which the marquee had been erected , that remained a perfect chaos till the morning , the colonel having given orders that nothing should be touched as soon as the fire had been extinguished and the escaping gas securely stopped where the great pipe -- not the original cause of the mischief , but that which had been broken by the explosion -- stood amongst a heap of charred relics of the supper ; while , to insure that such articles of jewellery as had been lost in the terrible struggle should be in safety , sentries were posted , and soon after the barrack yard was cleared of all save those who had special business there . Hours elapsed before the last carriage rolled away with its scared occupants ; for in the cases of those who had come from a distance the servants had not been ordered to attend till two and three o'clock . At last , though , there was peace , and the officers of the 205th gathered in the mess-room to partake of a cup of coffee and a cigar before seeking their beds , as , utterly fagged out , they sat for some time talking over the events of the evening . `` Well , gentlemen , '' said the colonel , at last , `` I hope you are satisfied with our ball . '' `` Satisfied ! ''