five o'clock in
the morning
Just then an officer rode along , endeavouring to effect some order , but the men gave no attention to him at all . They had taken it into their heads to go . By this time the routed troops before us were packed between the high banks of the roadway which went down toward the creek . I was desperately hungry , having eaten nothing since five o'clock in the morning . `` Let 's stay here and eat something , '' said I to Willis , `` and let the crowd scatter before we go on . '' `` No , not yet , '' said he ; `` we need water first . I could n't swallow a mouthful without water .