two o'clock in the morning
Looking at his watch as he sipped his tin of coffee Pike noticed that it was now eleven o'clock . `` Oh , if I only knew that all was well with the captain , '' he muttered . `` And if I only knew where Sieber and the cavalry were to-night . '' Not until after two o'clock in the morning did the old soldier decide that it was time to `` turn over the command '' and seek a little rest himself . He knew that he would not be half fit for the responsibilities of the coming day unless he could get a few hours ' sleep , and as Jim had now been snoring uninterruptedly for over four hours , Pike concluded to call him , give him some strong coffee and some sharp instructions , and put him `` on post . '' It took no little shaking and kicking to rouse the boy , but presently he sat up , just as he had done at the ambulance , with the yawning inquiry , `` What 's the matter ? '' `` Nearly half-past two , Jim , and your turn for guard .