eleven o'clock
Here Desmond 's attention was arrested by the absence of Rajinder Singh . Hailing a lesser native officer , he learnt that the Ressaldar had been ill with sun-fever all night , and was still quite unfit for work . Hindus are creatures of little or no stamina , and they go down like mown grass before the unhealthy heat of the Frontier . Desmond despatched a message to the stricken man , adding that he himself would come to make inquiry before eleven o'clock . On his return he found Harry temporarily quieter , and fallen into a light sleep . `` I must see Frank about him , '' he reflected , `` on my way back from the Lines . '' For Frank was the regimental standby in every emergency , and would claim the lion 's share of the nursing as a matter of course .