ten o'clock
It was not so with me . On the eve of the battle I could not but feel that in a few hours I might be ownerless , and in a dead man 's pocket ; and , as I looked back upon my strangely eventful life , I sighed , and half hoped , if he were slain , they would in mercy bury me with him , and so end my cares once and for all . Little I knew ! It was scarcely ten o'clock when Paddy was startled by approaching footsteps . They belonged to an officer of our force who was returning at this hour from an outpost . Paddy eyed him suspiciously , and even when he gave the word looked disappointed at not having the privilege of using his bayonet upon him . Just as he was going on his way , the officer turned and said , in a voice which startled me , -- `` Is it ten yet , my man ? ''