midnight
Heimert carried the lamp to the table in the window and sat down to write . In order to pass the time until Heppner should return , he was going to check the shoeing account in his register by the entries in the ordnance books . In his slow , neat handwriting he inscribed one careful entry after another , and became so absorbed by his task that he never even heard the tattoo . When he looked up from the books it was already past eleven ; but that was all right , for the sergeant-major was safe not to be going home till midnight . Heimert opened the window and looked out . It had rained during the day , and now all nature seemed to be sprouting and budding . The odour of the young fresh green things was wafted in by a breath of wind , which gently swayed the cotton curtains .