about three a.m.
Having finished my survey , I went back to the study , and poured myself out a little brandy . Then to the tower to watch . _ VIII _ It was now about three a.m. , and , presently , the Eastern sky began to pale with the coming of dawn . Gradually , the day came , and , by its light , I scanned the gardens , earnestly ; but nowhere could I see any signs of the brutes . I leant over , and glanced down to the foot of the wall , to see whether the body of the Thing I had shot the night before was still there . It was gone .