Sentence:  If anything could have kept me awake, this cracked drum would; and, in truth, I had my fears, when, on entering my room, I heard my hero <WSD>ruffing</WSD> it away immediately in front of the window; but they were groundless apprehensions, though his efforts were varied and unceasing, for I undressed to the tune of the "Grenadiers' March," stepped into bed to the "Reveille," and dropped fast asleep to the first part of "Yankee Doodle!" 
Meaning of the word marked with <WSD> tags:  Of a drum, etc.: to have a ruff or ruffle beaten on it.