three o’clock
So it was with me on the morning after my arrival at The Shallows . I accounted most satisfactorily for all that had occurred , or seemed to have occurred , during the night ; and resolved that , though the old Madeira was uncommonly good , I must be careful in future not to drink more than a couple of glasses after dinner . I need scarcely say that I said nothing to Mrs. Balk of my bad dreams , and shortly after breakfast I took my gun , and went out in search of such game as I might chance to meet with . At three o'clock I sent the keeper home , as his capacious pockets were pretty well filled , telling him that I thought I knew the country , and should stroll back leisurely . The gray gloom of the November evening was spreading over the sky as I came upon a small plantation which I believed belonged to me . I struck straight across it ; emerging from its shadows , I found myself by a small stream and some marshy land ; on the other side another small plantation . A snipe got up , I fired , and tailored it .