midnight
He drew a quick , frightened breath , and then , throwing back his shoulders , fell into step , and the six men tramped from the club and out into the night . That night at the post there was little sleep for any one . The feet of hurrying orderlies beat upon the parade-ground , the windows of the Officers ' Club blazed defiantly , and from the darkened quarters of the enlisted men came the sound of voices snarling in violent vituperation . At midnight , half of Ranson 's troop , having attacked the rest of the regiment with cavalry-boots , were marched under arrest to the guard-house . As they passed Ranson 's hut , where he still paced the veranda , a burning cigarette attesting his wakefulness , they cheered him riotously . At two o'clock it was announced from the hospital that both patients were out of danger ; for it had developed that , in his hurried diagnosis , Sergeant Clancey had located Henderson 's heart six inches from where it should have been . When one of the men who guarded Ranson reported this good news the prisoner said , `` Still , I hope they 'll hang whoever did it .