ten o'clock
This was at nine o'clock . Less than two hours later a mounted orderly set forth with dispatches from the temporary post commander to Colonel Byrne at Prescott . A wire from that point about sundown had announced the safe arrival of the party from Camp Sandy . The answer , sent at ten o'clock , broke up the game of whist at the quarters of the inspector general . Byrne , the recipient , gravely read it , backed from the table , and vainly strove not to see the anxious inquiry in the eyes of Major Plume , his guest . But Plume cornered him . `` From Sandy ? ''