noon
`` During the night a shot gave notice of the escape of two prisoners . General Steinbach , suspecting the cause of the shot , went himself to Captain Eberhardt 's tent . There he found the captain bound and gagged . He immediately ordered him put under arrest , and commanded that he be executed at noon to-day for allowing the prisoners to get away . That is all there is about it . '' Chester quickly drew his watch from his pocket and glanced at it . `` Nine o'clock , '' he said ; `` plenty of time . ''