about ten p.m.
Anyway , I have given the account of his first cold-blooded victim ; I will follow with his first hot-blooded one . It occurred about six weeks later in the same part of the line ; and as a mark of special favour he had been allowed to accompany Shorty on one of his nightly prowls . That worthy was wont to remark that two men on a joy ride in No Man 's Land was one too many ; wherefore it must be assumed that Reginald had grown in wisdom and cunning , and found favour in the sight of his taskmaster . They slipped over the top about ten p.m. Shorty was armed as usual merely with the villainous billhook-kukri of his own design , while Reggie carried a revolver and a clasp knife which resembled a young bayonet . It was not a reconnoitring patrol as laid down in the book of the words ; it was merely a pleasure ramble , so Shorty said , as they passed silently out of a sap and disappeared in the darkness . The first thing Reggie did was to kick a tin and fall into a shell hole , where he was joined by Shorty . `` Frightening rooks , son , '' he remarked kindly , `` or rehearsing as a knockabout comedian ?