half
past seven
He was relieved to note that from the direction of Miramar there was no sound of fighting . In the lower part of the city he could hear a brisk fusillade , but , except from the custom-house , the firing had more the sound of street fighting than of an organized attack . From this , he judged the assault on the artillery barracks had not yet begun . He flashed his electric torch on his watch , and it showed half past seven . There was still a half-hour to wait . He rose and , for the hundredth time , spun the wheel of his engine , examined his revolver , and yawned nervously . It was now quite dark .