four o'clock
great are the cable-wallahs , wah ! '' which they continued without intermission all through the night , to their own intense delight and to the annoyance no doubt of the military unfortunates who were encamped on the ground . Besides the naked fellows who , in their excitement and activity , resembled good-humoured , brown demons , there were many other figures in English dress moving about , directing and encouraging , running from point to point , flitting to and fro like wills-o ' - the-wisp , for all bore lights , and plunged ever and anon out of sight in the trench . Between three and four o'clock the work was completed ; tests were taken , the portion of cable was pronounced perfect , and communication was thus established between the cable-house and Rampart Row . This was the first link in the great chain of submarine telegraphy between India and England . `` Now , Robin , '' said Sam , with a tremendous yawn , `` as we 've seen the first act in the play , it is time , I think , to go home to bed . '' With a yawn that rivalled that of his comrade , Robin admitted the propriety of the proposal , and , half an hour later , they turned in , to sleep -- `` perchance to dream ! ''