about eight a.m.
Then calling Pedro , a Portuguese , who had entered his service on his first arrival in India as a Kitmagar or Valet , he dispatched him to the Bazaar to procure from the Kotwell the necessary hackarries , or baggage carts and cattle ; then , after enjoying several puffs from his hookah , he flung himself on a lounge to snatch what sleep he could before the grey dawn of day appeared . He was aroused at an early hour by the hurried entrance of his Portuguese servant who , after carefully closing the door , communicated the following startling intelligence : It appears that Pedro , after executing the commission entrusted to him , called on a friend in the Bazaar , who , like himself , was a Christian , to bid him farewell , and remained for two or three hours ; that on his way home he heard voices in the angle of a small compound , which excited his curiosity . Approaching the spot noiselessly , through a hole in the prickly pear hedge he , by the light of the moon , saw four persons conversing together , two of whom he recognized ; one was a Jemidar of Cavalry , the other , Soobadah , Major of one of the native regiments , the remaining two were strangers , evidently belonging to some irregular corps . The substance of their conversation was to the effect that , about six hundred irregular horse , and a company of Goolandowz , -LRB- but without guns or ammunition -RRB- were halted a short distance beyond the limits of the cantonments ready to enter at a given signal ; that all the native corps in garrison were to rise , simultaneously , about eight a.m. ; an attempt was to be made to carry off the artillery guns while the European gunners were at their breakfasts ; the Fort was to be carried by a sudden rush , and the town plundered ; they were then to make off to the next smallest station , where they were unlikely to meet with any European force . For some moments Arthur was undecided as to what course he ought to pursue . `` If , '' thought he , `` I carry this information to the Brigadier , he will pooh , pooh it as mere moonshine , besides I no longer belong to his staff , and he would not listen to anything I might suggest ; it would only be time thrown away ; but Huntingdon must be warned . Forewarned is forearmed , and he is not the man to disregard a circumstance of this kind . ''