ten o'clock
Next morning , however , in the cold light of day , the proposition had lost something of its charms for Kettle . The yellow stripes down his legs did not appear quite so overwhelmingly fascinating . He remembered that Sergeant McGillicuddy was afraid to ride in the buggy behind the milkman 's horse . Sergeant Halligan did not give Kettle any time to repent of his decision , and promptly appeared at ten o'clock and escorted Kettle to the recruiting office . The recruiting sergeant was on hand and Sergeant Halligan explained Kettle 's martial enthusiasm . Something like a wink passed between Sergeant Halligan and Gully , the recruiting sergeant , who agreed to enlist Kettle , under the name of Solomon Ezekiel Pickup , as a unit in the army of the United States . A sudden illumination came to Kettle .