midnight
Recovered from the first and irrepressible agitation which had driven him to sound the tocsin of alarm , he felt how derogatory to his military dignity and proverbial coolness of character it might be considered , to have awakened a whole garrison from their slumbers , when a few files of the guard would have answered his purpose equally well . Besides , so much time had been suffered to elapse , that the stranger might have escaped ; and if so , how many might be disposed to ridicule his alarm , and consider it as emanating from an imagination disturbed by sleep , rather than caused by the actual presence of one endowed like themselves with the faculties of speech and motion . For a moment he hesitated whether he should not countermand the summons to arms which had been so precipitately given ; but when he recollected the harrowing threat that had been breathed in his ear by his midnight visiter , -- when he reflected , moreover , that even now it was probable he was lurking within the precincts of the fort with a view to the destruction of all that it contained , -- when , in short , he thought of the imminent danger that must attend them should he be suffered to escape , -- he felt the necessity of precaution , and determined on his measures , even at the risk of manifesting a prudence which might be construed unfavourably . On re-entering his apartments , he found his orderly , who , roused by the midnight tumult , stood waiting to receive the commands of his chief . `` Desire Major Blackwater to come to me immediately . '' The mandate was quickly obeyed . In a few seconds a short , thick-set , and elderly officer made his appearance in a grey military undress frock .