eight o'clock
`` Almia knew by the papers , '' continued the Daughter of the House , `` that a great battle was expected to take place not far from a town at some distance from her home ; and she went to this town by rail , carrying only a small hand-bag in addition to the things she wore under her waterproof . She took lodgings at a hotel , and , after an early breakfast the next morning , she hired a cab to take her out to the battle-field . The cabman drove her several miles into the country , but when he heard the booming of the preliminary cannon with which the battle was then opening , he refused to go any farther , and she was obliged to get out at the corner of a lane and the highroad . She paid the man his fare and gave him five dollars extra , and then she engaged him to call at that place for her at eight o'clock that evening . She was sure the battle would be over by that time , as it would be beginning to get dark . The cabman was sorry to leave her there to walk the rest of the way , but his horse was afraid of cannon , and he did not dare to go any farther . `` Almia took off her waterproof and left it in the cab , and the cabman was a good deal astonished when he saw her without it .