midnight
If any number of men should desert on this night , there could not be any question but that we , having had an inkling of it , might justly be held accountable , but yet I was not pleased at the thought of doing or suffering to be done that which the old soldier had set his face against . However , as has been said , I could have done nothing to change matters save by going to the commandant , and therefore remained in the barracks , mightily uncomfortable in mind , but trying my best at holding conversation with Jacob on indifferent subjects . The majority of my company had no idea of what might be done that night , therefore they lay down to sleep as usual , Jacob and I seeking the open air after we found it was impossible to take interest in any subject save that which lay , just at that time , nearest our hearts . We paced to and fro in front of the barracks , taking good care not to disturb the sleepers , until perhaps half an hour before midnight , and then the sergeant came up , looking much like a man who has just settled a very disagreeable question . `` Well , it 's done , '' he said , abruptly , `` an ' to-morrow at this time I reckon there 'll be less fools in the world . '' `` What do you mean ? '' I cried , excitedly , for , although expecting to hear that a certain number of men had deserted , I could not but feel astonishment when the suspicions thus became a certainty .