about three minutes to nine
A frown creased his brow . It was best not to puzzle over that question . Best just to go ahead , and keep going . * * * * * At about three minutes to nine he set the plane 's nose down through veils of clammy cloud . This was mountainous country , sparsely patrolled by Slav ships . Lance hovered cautiously over the firred mountain tops , getting his directions , shooting wary eyes through the magnifying mirrors in search of enemy scouts . He saw none .