midnight
He raised himself , gave one wild , ardent look into her face and , ere she could stay him , rushed like a strong man to the garden gate , flung it open , and followed the troops . He soon overtook the rear ranks , passed on in advance of the others , and at last reached their leader 's side and , calling his uncle by name , gave his own . Hosea , in his joy and astonishment , held out his arms , but ere Ephraim could fall upon his breast , he again lost consciousness , and stalwart soldiers bore the senseless lad into the tent the quartermaster had already pitched on a dune by the sea . It was midnight . A fire was blazing in front of Hosea 's tent , and he sat alone before it , gazing mournfully now into the flames and anon over the distant country . Inside the canvas walls Ephraim was lying on his uncle 's camp-bed . The surgeon who attended the soldiers had bandaged the youth 's wounds , given him an invigorating cordial , and commanded him to keep still ; for the violence with which the fever had attacked the lad alarmed him .