seven o'clock
For a time , all were busy collecting wood . A sheltered place was chosen , for the village lay very high , close to the source of a little stream running into the river Mortagne . The cooking places were again prepared for supper . At seven o'clock the meal was served , differing but little from that of the morning ; except that after the men had eaten the soup , and the meat from it -LRB- in France called bouilli -RRB- , they fried some thin slices of meat in the lids of their canteens , and concluded the meal with a cup of coffee . Then four large fires were lit -- one for each company -- and a smaller one for the officers . Blankets were spread out on the ground round these fires , and the men lit their pipes and chatted gaily . All were more or less tired for , although their month 's hard drill had accustomed them to work , eighteen miles with arms , ammunition , and accouterments had tired them more than they had anticipated .