midnight
`` On such scenes I will touch as lightly as possible , and chiefly for Mr. Merwyn 's benefit ; for if Strahan had been left on the field , either killed or wounded , I do not see how he could have escaped me . '' Then , with a smile at the young girl , he added : `` Since you credit me with some skill as a story-teller , and since my story is so long , perhaps it should be divided . In that case what I am now about to relate should be headed with the words , ` My search for Strahan . ' '' `` You will remember , '' said the captain , after a moment 's pause , that he might take up the thread of his narrative consecutively , `` that I awoke a little before midnight . At first I was confused , but soon all that had happened came back to me . I found myself a part of a long line of sleeping men that formed the reserve . Not farther than from here across the street was another line in front of us .