nine o'clock
He grasped the handle with the right hand , threw the jug back upon his arm , and applied his lips to the nozzle . It was an act as graceful as it was simple . `` Besides , '' said Mr. Thompson , setting it down , `` it puts every man on his honor as to quantity . '' Early to turn in was the rule of the camp , and by nine o'clock everybody was under his blanket , except Jeff himself , who worked awhile at his table over his field-book , and then arose , stepped outside the tent door and sang , in a strong and not unmelodious tenor , the Star Spangled Banner from beginning to end . It proved to be his nightly practice to let off the unexpended steam of his conversational powers , in the words of this stirring song . It was a long time before Philip got to sleep . He saw the fire light , he saw the clear stars through the tree-tops , he heard the gurgle of the stream , the stamp of the horses , the occasional barking of the dog which followed the cook 's wagon , the hooting of an owl ; and when these failed he saw Jeff , standing on a battlement , mid the rocket 's red glare , and heard him sing , `` Oh , say , can you see ? ''