about one o'clock
Some of us were indifferent in our fatalism to the shells of Asiatic Annie ; if our time had come -- well , Kismet . Others , like myself , waited fascinated . I know I had almost hungered for that meaning flash in Asia , the terrible delight of suspense , the rush of thrills , and the sudden arresting of the heart as the shell exploded . § 4 Then , about one o'clock , the moon broke the clouds and lit the operations with a white light . It should have filled us with dismay , but instead it seemed the beginning of brighter things . The men groaned merrily and burst into a drawling song : `` Oh , the moon shines bright on Mrs. Porter , And on her daughter , A regular snorter ; She has washed her neck in dirty water , She did n't oughter , The dirty cat . '' And Monty , hearing them , whispered one of his delightfully out-of-place remarks : `` Are n't they wonderful , Rupert ?