about two in the
morning
`` One would n't have imagined so after seeing him coolly doing his work with the bullets flattening on the stones all round ; but I 'll confess I could never understand what happened afterwards . The orders were that the hill must be held at any cost , but as our line was long we could n't send up many men . Blake stayed with his few sappers , we had a gun from the mule battery , and there was Challoner , myself , and two more officers with a handful of native infantry . It was about two in the morning when the fellows made their rush , a band of Ghazees leading it , and I 'll own that we were all a little overstrung . Forced marches on half rations and lying awake night after night expecting an attack are wearing . For all that , it was a strong position , and though there were not many of them we felt we could trust the men . The hill was hard to climb except by a ravine the gun did not command and Blake had laid a mine there .