about three o'clock
`` A near thing , '' he said , and with unusual care moved along a traverse , his duty over for the day . He took with him a feeling of mental confusion and of annoyed wonder . He found Josiah picking a chicken as he sat whistling in front of the tent . `` There 's been a fight , sir , about three o'clock , on our left . Bill says we beat . '' `` Indeed ! '' It was too common news to interest him .