His excitement grew.

He strained his eyes, but he could see nothing in the dark ravine, or out there where the cannon roared, save the rapid, red flashes under the dim horizon.

He had his watch and he had kept it running.

Now he was able to make out that it was only three o'clock in the morning.

A long time until day and he must wait until then to know what such a furious convulsion would achieve.
The slow time passed, and there was no decrease of the fire.