nearly 12 o'clock
We can get the information we want after we learn more of the camping possibilities of this neighborhood and can talk intelligently when we begin to make inquiries . '' `` And when we get back , '' Hazel added , `` we 'll go to some neighboring house and ask all about who lives here and who lives there , and , of course , we 'll be particular to ask the name of the family where that icy bottle of perfume lives . '' `` That 's the very idea , '' Katherine agreed enthusiastically . `` But we have n't any time to waste , for it is nearly 12 o'clock now , and we have only a little more than an hour to work in if the motorboat arrives on time . We 'd better not try to walk a mile -- half a mile will be enough , maybe a quarter -- just enough to enable us to talk intelligently about the lay of the land right around here . '' They walked north along the road nearly half a mile , found a path which led directly toward the lake , followed it until within view of the water 's edge , satisfied themselves that there were several excellent camping places along the shore in this vicinity and then started back . They had passed three or four cottages on their way and at one of these they stopped to make inquiries as planned .