seven o'clock
He has gone now in spite of me , and no one knows where . '' It was then nearly twelve o'clock , and `` the Bugologist '' was still abroad . Dinner , as usual since his mishap , had been sent over to him from the officers ' mess soon after sunset . His horse , or rather the troop horse designated for his use , had been fed and groomed in the late afternoon , and then saddled at seven o'clock and brought over to the rear of the quarters by a stable orderly . There had been some demur at longer sending Blakely 's meals from mess , now reduced to an actual membership of two . Sandy was a `` much married '' post in the latter half of the 70 's , the bachelors of the commissioned list being only three , all told , -- Blakely , and Duane of the Horse , and Doty of the Foot . With these was Heartburn , the contract doctor , and now Duane and the doctor were out in the mountains and Blakely on sick report , yet able to be about .