Three o'clock
I had but three hours more of life : so I flung myself again on the sofa , and fell profoundly asleep . As it may happen to any of my readers to be in the same situation , and to be hanged themselves , let me earnestly entreat them to adopt this plan of going to sleep , which I for my part have repeatedly found to be successful . It saves unnecessary annoyance , it passes away a great deal of unpleasant time , and it prepares one to meet like a man the coming catastrophe . * * * Three o'clock came : the sun was at this time making his appearance in the heavens , and with it came the guards , who were appointed to conduct me to the torture . I woke , rose , was carried out , and was set on the very white donkey on which Loll Mahommed was conducted through the camp after he was bastinadoed . Bobbachy Bahawder rode behind me , restored to his rank and state ; troops of cavalry hemmed us in on all sides ; my ass was conducted by the common executioner : a crier went forward , shouting out , `` Make way for the destroyer of the faithful -- he goes to bear the punishment of his crimes . '' We came to the fatal plain : it was the very spot whence I had borne away the elephant , and in full sight of the fort .