three o'clock in the
morning
Almost every day he rode , in spite of the weather , to one or other of the regimental camps ; and soon came to know most of the officers of the force . His previous experience on the rivers had done much to acclimatise him , and his health continued good . On the evening of the 30th he had , at the general 's order , ridden up to the pagoda . It was considered likely that the attack would be delivered there in the first place and , at three o'clock in the morning , when it became evident that a large body of men were approaching through the forest , he galloped back to Rangoon with the news and , at five , rode out again with Sir A. Campbell . Among the garrison there was much disappointment when the sound of wood chopping announced that the Burmese did not intend to attack ; but the general , who had been watching the edge of the jungle through his glasses , lowered them and put them into their case with an expression of satisfaction . `` I do n't want them to attack , Colonel , '' he said . `` If they do , and we beat them off , we are no nearer the end than before .