four in the afternoon
When we came to the Canal Engineer 's Rest House the Major called for The Boy 's servant ; but there was no answer . Then we went up to the house , calling for The Boy by name ; but there was no answer . `` Oh , he 's out shooting , '' said I. Just then I saw through one of the windows a little hurricane-lamp burning . This was at four in the afternoon . We both stopped dead in the verandah , holding our breath to catch every sound ; and we heard , inside the room , the `` brr -- brr -- brr '' of a multitude of flies . The Major said nothing , but he took off his helmet and we entered very softly . The Boy was dead on the charpoy in the centre of the bare , lime-washed room .