twelve o'clock
The two aides-de-camp were kept in suspense as to what the general 's intentions were , and it was not until the morning of Tuesday that he said to them : `` I am going up to the pagoda this evening , Mr. Tollemache ; and you had better , therefore , put some provisions and a bottle of brandy into your holsters . '' At nine in the evening they rode off . The rain had ceased ; the moon was shining through the clouds . `` It will be down by twelve o'clock , '' Tollemache said . `` I should think , most likely , they will wait for that . They will think that we shall not be able to take aim at them , in the darkness ; and that they will manage to get to the foot of the hill , without loss . '' When they reached the platform in front of the pagoda , their syces took their horses .