ten minutes to ten
At eight o'clock the mate relieved Ben , and the skipper with a view of keeping up appearances announced his intention of turning in for a bit . The sun went down behind clouds of smoky red , but the light of the summer evening lasted for some time after . Then darkness came down over the sea , and it was desolate except for the sidelights of distant craft . The mate drew out his watch and by the light of the binnacle-lamp , saw that it was ten minutes to ten . At the same moment he heard somebody moving about forward . `` Who 's that for ` ard ? '' he cried , smartly .