about nine o'clock
But then there is nothing in the course of nature that is useless ; and what was to hinder me from acting as orderly , or being one of the camp-colour-men on head days ? We all cracked very crouse about fighting , when we heard of garments rolled in blood only from abroad ; but one dark night we got a fleg in sober earnest . There were signal-posts on the hills , up and down all the country , to make alarms in case of necessity ; and I never went to my bed without giving first a glee eastward to Falside-brae , and then another westward to the Calton-hill , to see that all the country was quiet . I had just papped in -- it might be about nine o'clock -- after being gey hard drilled , and sore between the shoulders , with keeping my head back and playing the dumb-bells ; when , lo and behold ! instead of getting my needful rest in my own bed , with my wife and wean , jow went the bell , and row-de-dow gaed the drums , and all in a minute was confusion and uproar . I was seized with a severe shaking of the knees , and a flang at the heart ; but I hurried , with my nightcap on , up to the garret window , and there I too plainly saw that the French had landed -- for all the signal posts were in a bleeze . This was in reality to be a soldier !