five o'clock
Their duty was hard , though simple . By day they were constantly on duty -- that is to say , either riding over the country , or waiting near the general 's quarters in readiness for a start or -- more seldom -- writing , and drawing up reports in the office . By night they took it in turns with the other staff officers to be on duty -- that is to say , to lie down to sleep in uniform , with the horse saddled at the door , in readiness to start at an instant 's notice . Tim 's duties as an orderly were not heavy , and were generally over by five o'clock ; after which he acted as servant to the boys . It was impossible , under the circumstances , for the staff to mess together , as usual . There was neither a room available nor , indeed , any of the appliances . Among Tim 's other duties , therefore , was that of cooking .