five minutes to nine
We 've got to do it in six . ' ` You will be humbler when you get on the ice , ' he said grimly . ` We 'd better breakfast , for the Lord knows when we shall see food again . ' We left the inn at five minutes to nine , with the sky cloudless and a stiff wind from the north-west , which we felt even in the deep-cut valley . Wake walked with a long , slow stride that tried my patience . I wanted to hustle , but he bade me keep in step . ` You take your orders from me , for I 've been at this job before .