eight o'clock
The trooper who had been riding with him , joined us after a while , telling us to take the road to our right , which would take us , he said , towards Taunton . We were to keep our eyes skinned , he said , for any sign of armed men coming on the high-road from Honiton , so as to threaten our left flank . The gentlemen were going to scout towards the sea . At eight o'clock , if we had seen no trace of any armed force coming , we were to make for Chard , where we should find the Duke 's army . We were to examine the roads for any signs of troops having passed recently towards Taunton . We were to enquire of the country people , if troops were abroad in that countryside , what troops they might be , how led , how equipped , etc. . If we came across any men anxious to join the Duke we were to send them on to Chard or Ilminster , on the easterly road to Taunton .