1 a.m.
He was swearing viciously . It was , indeed , the sound of his oaths which led me to him . They were not loud , but they were uttered with an intensity which gave them the power of piercing through the tumult of the storm . He and I and the Company Sergeant-Major stuck together , and at 1 a.m. -- we took the time from Haines ' luminous-faced wrist watch -- we suddenly tumbled into the trench . We found the whole four platoons waiting for us ; but they would not have waited much longer . The senior Second Lieutenant -- a very well-known solicitor -- had taken command of the company , assuming , as he said , that Haines had become a casualty accidentally . His idea was to march the men home , and then send the Ambulance Brigade to search for Haines , the Company Sergeant-Major , and me .