four
in the morning
And after this I can recall passing the tower of Marham Church , with the paling sky behind it , and some birds chattering in the carved courses : and soon -LRB- it seem 'd -RRB- felt Billy 's grip on my knee , and open 'd my eyes to see his finger pointing . We stood on a ridge above a hollow vale into which the sun , though now bright , did not yet pierce , but passing over to a high , conical hill beyond , smote level on line after line of white tents -- the prettiest sight ! 'T was the enemy there encamped on the top and some way down the sides , the smoke of their trampled watch fires still curling among the gorsebushes . I heard their trumpets calling and drums beating to arms ; for though , glancing back at the sun , I judged it to be hardly past four in the morning , yet already the slopes were moving like an ant-hill -- the regiments gathering , arms flashing , horsemen galloping to and fro , and the captains shouting their commands . In the distance this had a sweet and cheerful sound , no more disquieting than a ploughboy calling to his team . Looking down into the valley at our feet , at first I saw no sign of our own troops -- only the roofs of a little town , with overmuch smoke spread above it , like a morning mist . But here also I heard the church bells clashing and a drum beating , and presently spied a gleam of arms down among the trees , and then a regiment of foot moving westward along the base of the hill .