about six o'clock
I could see these hamlets plainly enough then , but I did not pay much attention to them as they were beyond our line of battle on the right , and we did not see any troops there . Now you can all see the position of the English on our front , the road to Brussels which traversed it , the cross-road which covered it , the plateau in the rear where the reserves were , and the three farms , Hougoumont , Haie-Sainte , and Papelotte in front , well garrisoned . You can all see that it would be very difficult to force . I looked at it about six o'clock that morning very attentively , as a man will do who is to run the risk of breaking his bones and losing his life in some enterprise , and who at least likes to know if he has any chance of escape . Zébédé , Sergeant Rabot , and Captain Florentin , Buche , and indeed every one as he rose cast a glance at that hill-side without saying a word . Then they looked around them at the great squares of infantry , the squadrons of cuirassiers , of dragoons , chasseurs , lancers , etc. , encamped amid the growing grain . Nobody had any fears now that the English would beat a retreat , we lighted as many fires as we pleased , and the smoke from the damp straw filled the air .