seven o'clock
`` I think we are lucky all round , '' Ralph said . `` An hour ago if any one told us we were going to sit down at half-past four to a hot dinner of pork and potatoes we should have slain him as a scoffer . It would have seemed altogether too good to be true . '' Ralph had no difficulty in purchasing whisky , and he ordered the sergeant to serve out a tot to each man with his dinner and another half an hour later , and by seven o'clock there was scarcely one of the tired men who was not already asleep . The next morning they started at eight o'clock , having had a breakfast of potatoes before they fell in . Ralph rewarded the peasants generously for their hospitality , and the men set off in high spirits for their tramp , and reached Ballyporrit at half-past two in the afternoon . `` You gave us a nice scare yesterday , Conway , '' was Captain O'Connor 's greeting as they marched in .