Nine o'clock
As for Chalmers , the summons was already come . Far from home and those who most loved and would sorely grieve for him , the brave lad was dying . Carmody , kneeling by his side , but the moment before had looked up mutely in his young commander 's face , and his swimming , sorrowing eyes had told the story . Nine o'clock had come without a symptom of alarm or enemy from without , yet death had invaded the lonely refuge in the rocks , claiming one victim as his tribute for the day and setting his seal upon still another , the prospective sacrifice for the dismal morrow , and Blakely could stand the awful strain no longer . `` Sergeant , '' said he , `` I must know what this means . We must have help for the captain before this sun goes down , or he may be gone before we know it . '' And Carmody looked him in the face and answered : `` I am strong yet and unhurt .