noon
With a paternal tap on my head , he drew on his scarlet , gold-banded cap , tightened the check strap , and walked out of the room . Down-stairs I heard him cursing because his horse had been shot . I never saw him again . Dozing feverishly , hearing the cannon through troubled slumber , I awoke toward noon quite free from any considerable pain , but thirsty and restless , and numbed to the hips . Alarmed , I strove to move my feet , and succeeded . Then , freed from the haunting terror of paralysis , I fell to pinching my legs with satisfaction , my eyes roving about in search of water . The room where I lay was in disorder ; it appeared to be completely furnished with well-made old pieces , long out of date , but not old enough to be desirable .