nearly four in the afternoon
Adjutant Wright fumed inwardly , though he turned to Hal to say : `` Sergeant , inspect the guard . '' A little later Hal marched his new guard down to the guard house . Lieutenant Ferrers had not yet been found , and there was a storm brewing . IT was nearly four in the afternoon when the sentry on post number one called briskly : `` Sergeant of the guard , post number one ! '' `` What is it , sentry ? '' asked Hal , stepping briskly out of the guard house . `` Lieutenant Ferrers is approaching , Sergeant , '' replied the sentry , nodding his head down the road .