eight o'clock
`` I am sure I do _ not _ , '' was the weary answer , `` but all the same I must . '' And , being a girl of pluck , and much ashamed of the breakdown of Friday and Saturday , Miss Arnold made her effort , and did remarkably well so long as people refrained from prodding her about her `` strange adventure , '' the alleged details of which , in exaggerated form , were garrison property by this time . There could be no doubt , said nine out of ten of the soldiery , it was the work of some sneak-thief in uniform , in all probability that young swell Rawdon , who was gone . But among a certain select few still another theory obtained , and Wednesday night when Sergeant Fitzroy returned to the post and asked to see the colonel , that officer , who was at dinner , sent answer that he would be at the office at eight o'clock , and further sent word to Captain Snaffle to be there at the same hour . A spell of sharp cold had followed the blizzard . The skies were dazzling at night with the radiance and sparkle of the stars . The young people of the garrison were out in force , rejoicing in the snow sports , the moonlight , the exhilarating air .