three o’clock
You let _ us _ alone . There 's plenty of us to do it ; only you give us leave , and issue an order that not an officer nor a non-commissioned officer is to interfere , and _ we _ , the private soldiers of the British army , will have that place for you if we pull the works down with our fingers , and crack the stones with our teeth ! '' `` And what , '' said the Colonel , utterly aghast at this unheard-of proposal , `` what -- '' `` What time will we be under arms to do it ? '' interrupted the delighted delegate , never doubting but that his request was now as good as granted , -- `` why , at three o'clock to-morrow morning ; and you see , Colonel , when the thing 's done , if me and my company _ was n't the first lads in ! _ '' Such is the material of which these troops are made who are now waiting patiently to be marched down to the nightly butchery of the trenches . `` It reminds one of the cover-side at home , '' remarked Ropsley , as we cantered up to the parade , and dismounted ; `` one meets fellows from all parts of the camp , and one hears all the news before the sport begins . There goes the French relief , '' he added , as our allies went slinging by , their jaunty , disordered step , and somewhat straggling line of march , forming as strong a contrast to the measured tramp and regular movements of our own soldiers , as did their blue frock-coats and crimson trousers to the _ véritable rouge _ for which they had conceived so high a veneration .