nine o'clock
I 'd know him by it anywhere . '' `` So should I , and by his peculiar gait . I saw a man slipping along beyond the lines just now who made me think of that fellow , and that made me think of Doctor Carey , '' the sentinel said , and turned away . It was after nine o'clock , and the hours were already beginning to stretch wearily for sentinels , when a faint sound of guns away to the eastward broke on the air . Again and again it came , intermittently at first , but increasing to a steady roar . Down in Manila there was dead quiet , but along the American line of outposts the ripping of Mauser bullets and long streaks of light flashed the Filipino challenge to war in steady volleys . As Thaine listened , the firing seemed to be creeping gradually toward the north , and he knew the insurgents were swinging toward the Tondo road , down which they would rush to storm the bridge .