eight o'clock
An hour passed and only an occasional crack of a musket across the shining thread of silver water and the slow sullen echo of the artillery . They seemed to be just practising . The shots all fell short and nobody was hurt . Another hour -- it was eight o'clock and still they stood and looked off into space . Nine o'clock passed and the fierce rays of the climbing July sun drove the men to the shelter of the trees . `` If this is war , '' yelled a red-breeched , fierce young Zouave , `` I 'll take firecrackers and a Fourth of July for mine ! '' `` Keep your shirt on , Sonny , '' observed a corporal .