about half past six
shouted the professor , astonished . `` How do you owe him so much ? '' `` Well , sir , '' spoke the boy , `` it was like this : I had fallen into the hands of a band of murderous ruffians , and -- '' `` When did this occur ? '' `` At about half past six . Please do not interrupt me again . These ruffians , after relieving me of my valuables and wearing apparel , so that I was clad in nothing but a loose-fitting suit of air , proceeded , with fiendish design , to tie me to the railroad track . '' `` Terrible ! ''