about three o'clock in the morning
He was quite insensible . So the corporal took him up in his arms , laid him in his bed , then taking possession of the lieutenant 's chair , for he was tired of standing so long , he set to work to empty the bottle , which , being large and full at the time that it was produced from the cupboard , took some time , and before it was accomplished , the Corporal Van Spitter had fallen fast asleep in the chair . Shortly afterwards the candle burnt out , and the cabin was in darkness . It was about three o'clock in the morning when Mr Vanslyperken began to recover his senses , and as his recollection returned , so were his ears met with a stupendous roaring and unusual noise . It was , to his imagination , unearthly , for he had been troubled with wild dreams about Smallbones , and his appearance to the corporal . It sounded like thunder , and Mr Vanslyperken thought that he could plainly make out , '' _ Mortal man ! mortal man !