five o'clock before
At half-past three in the morning the officers of the staff were called by a native servant and began to make their preparations . They breakfasted as best they could on coffee without sugar or cream , and some stale bread , with an egg apiece , and whisky . Sam felt unaccountably sleepy , and he thought that all the rest looked sleepy too . It was five o'clock before Burton had the orders ready for the various subordinate commanders , telling each of them in which direction to advance . The plan had been mapped out the night before , but the orders had to be copied and corrected . At last he came out and distributed them to Stroud , Sam , and several other officers -- two orders to each , yawning painfully as he handed them out . `` I do n't think I slept a wink last night , '' he said .