ten o'clock
It 's one thing to let a lot of sneaks get away when you think the garrison will be the better off without 'em , an ' quite another to own up to your superior officer that you 've winked at desertion . I 'll keep a close tongue in my head , an ' so will them as are my friends . '' With this the old man walked away , leaving us gazing at each other in something very like astonishment , for we understood by his tone that he was much the same as threatening us in case we should take it upon ourselves to tell what we knew regarding the matter . Before ten o'clock all of the garrison were aware that five of the force had deserted , and those men who had been loudest spoken regarding the wisdom of surrendering , were now moving about very uneasily , doubtless fearing they might be called upon to answer for some of the unsoldierly remarks in which they had indulged . There was no real confusion in the fort , but a general air of disquietude and apprehension , which I thought quite wholesome , since it caused every man to do his duty more promptly and more thoroughly than I had ever seen it done . When those who had been summoned to headquarters appeared on the parade-ground once more , they were surrounded by eager comrades , all anxious to know what had been said to them ; but they could give very little definite information , and were unwilling to talk openly regarding the matter , for the reason , as I fancied , that some of them , being privy to the desertion , had denied such fact to the officers . Well , by noon it seemed as if the matter had entirely blown over .