eight o'clock in the
evening
`` So he had doubts of his success , '' said Washington musingly . `` Well , he was a brave man , for he never permitted them to be seen . '' He was fast growing weaker . His voice faltered and failed , and he lay without movement in his litter , continuing so until eight o'clock in the evening . We had halted for the night , and had gathered about his couch , watching him as his breathing grew slowly fainter . At last , when we thought him all but gone , he opened his eyes , and seeing the ring of anxious faces about him , smiled up at them . `` It is the end , '' he said quietly .