half after five
The commandant 's house at Bisuka Barracks is the nearest one to the flag-pole as you go up a flight of wooden steps from the parade ground . These steps , and their landings , flanked by the dry grass terrace of the line , are a favorite gathering place for young persons of leisure at the Post . They face the valley and the mountains ; they lead past the adjutant 's office to the main road to town ; they command the daily pageant of garrison duty as performed at such distant , unvisited posts , with only the ladies and the mountains looking on . Retreat had sounded at half after five , for the autumn days grew short . The colonel 's orderly had been dismissed to his quarters . There was no excuse , at this hour , for two young persons lingering in sentimental corners of the steps , beyond a flagrant satisfaction in the shadow thereof which covered them since the lighting of lamps on Officers ' Row . The colonel stood at his study window keeping his pipe alive with slow and dreamy puffs .