Six o'clock
Not the faintest sound escaped him ; the cry of a bird , the barking of a squirrel , the noise of the wind among the pines -- all were anxiously noted by his overstrained sense . Suddenly , directly in front of his line , he heard a faint , confused rumble , like the clatter of a falling building translated by distance . The lieutenant mechanically looked at his watch . Six o'clock and eighteen minutes . At the same moment an officer approached him on foot from the rear and saluted . `` Lieutenant , '' said the officer , `` the colonel directs you to move forward your line and feel the enemy if you find him . If not , continue the advance until directed to halt .