two o'clock
Nothing up to luncheon time had been seen or heard of human being moving without the limits of the post ; nothing by Lilian Archer of her gallant of the night before . In times of such anxiety men gather and compare notes . The guard had been strengthened during the night , and its members sat long in the moonlight , chatting in low tone . The officer of the day , making the rounds toward two o'clock , noted that the lights were still burning at the store , and , sauntering thither , found a game going on in the common room -- Dago seeking solace from his sorrows in limited monte with three or four employés and packers , while in the officers ' room was still another , with only one officer present and participating . To Captain Bonner 's surprise Lieutenant Willett , aide-de-camp , was `` sitting in '' with Bill Craney , the trader , Craney 's brother-in-law and partner , Mr. Watts , Craney 's bookkeeper , Mr. Case , a man of fair education and infirm character who had never , it was said , succeeded in holding any other position as long as six months . Here , as Craney admitted , he had n't enough to occupy him three weeks out of the four , and , so long as he could tend to that much , he was welcome to `` tank up '' when he pleased . That clerk had been a gentleman , he said , and behaved himself like one now , even when he was drunk .