the hours from four until six in the afternoon
`` I believe I 'll go home . I do n't care to serve under a man who has no more pluck than the colonel seems to have . '' If he had started at once he might have saved himself some anxiety , and would certainly have carried away with him a better opinion of his cousin Rodney than he had two days later . Although the hours from four until six in the afternoon were devoted to recreation , it was expected that those of the students who wished to visit friends in town would ask for a pass before attempting to leave the grounds ; but we have seen that they did n't . There were some professional guard-runners among them , and on this particular afternoon they appeared in full force . `` Come on , old fellow , '' Billings shouted to Marcy Gray , who was carrying a camp-chair toward a spreading maple that stood near the guard tent . `` No ; I think I will stay here and try to read , '' replied Marcy .