three o'clock in the morning
Good night ! '' The greater part of the night had already gone , for in May the days are already lengthening out . After the troops had fallen out from their ranks wood had to be collected and rations cooked , and it was past ten o'clock before any of them lay down , and an hour later , before Hector left on his expedition . The examination of the outposts had taken more than an hour ; it was now three o'clock in the morning , and the orders were that the troops should all be under arms before daybreak . Hector returned to the spot where he had left General Gassion . All was quiet there now , and he lay down until , somewhat before five , a bugle sounded . The signal was repeated all along the line , and almost at the same moment the Spanish trumpets told that the enemy , too , were making preparations for the day 's work .