ten minutes to nine
Smoke , or a cloud ? In two minutes there is no longer any doubt ; in three minutes the shapes of a squadron of battleships can be clearly seen ; in five minutes Smith 's practised eyes , now that he has descended , can distinguish the _ Imperturbable _ , flying the admiral 's flag , among what to a landsman would appear to be a dozen exactly similar vessels . Glancing back , he sees that the Red Scout has changed her course , and is already only a speck in the southern sky . It was precisely ten minutes to nine by Smith 's watch when the _ Puck _ , literally received with open arms by two-score sturdy tars , alighted on the deck of the _ Imperturbable _ . `` Come aboard , sir , '' said Smith cheerfully to his captain . `` So I see , '' was the laconic reply . `` Sorry I was away , sir , when your recall arrived -- in the South Pacific . ''