about midnight
Later in the day , however , news came to me that Private Edgecumbe was missing , and as he had last been to my billet , I was to be questioned as to whether I knew anything of his whereabouts . As may be imagined when these questions were asked I could give no satisfactory answers . I could not say that I suspected foul play without giving my reasons , and those reasons were not good enough to give . I could only say that he had come to me bringing a message from Captain Wilkins , that he had left me about midnight bearing my reply . That about two minutes after he had left I heard the sound of angry voices , as well as a pistol shot , but beyond that nothing . ` Have you no idea where he is ? ' I asked anxiously .