nine o'clock
Without making a reply he passed out between the racks of rusty muskets in the anteroom , between the two Gatling guns guarding the entrance , and on the palace steps , in indecision , halted . As Billy hesitated an officer followed him from the palace and beckoned to the guard that sat in the bare dust of the Champ de Mars playing cards for cartridges . Two abandoned the game , and , having received their orders , picked their muskets from the dust and stood looking expectantly at Billy . They were his escort , and it was evident that until nine o'clock , when he sailed , his movements would be spied upon ; his acts reported to the president . Such being the situation , Billy determined that his first act to be reported should be of a nature to cause the president active mental anguish . With his guard at his heels he went directly to the cable station , and to the Secretary of State of the United States addressed this message : `` President refuses my pay ; threatens shoot ; wireless nearest war-ship proceed here full speed . William Barlow . ''