nine o'clock
No one seemed nervous or worried , but perhaps a little more serious than usual . But there was not a man among all those thousands who was not glad that on the morrow he was to come up out of his hole in the ground and meet his enemy face to face . An air of quiet confidence pervaded the camp ; the air was full of it and one glance at these grim-visaged warriors of France was enough to convince any observer that they were eager for the battle to come . At nine o'clock that evening all arrangements had been completed and the final inspection held . The last letters were deposited at the regimental post-office , a most solemn ceremony . Many a long thought passed through the minds of the soldiers as they mailed what might be their final messages to their loved ones . `` I do n't like this business of hanging around , '' whispered Jacques in Leon 's ear .