half
past nine
I had still to contrive a plan of action for the night , for I did not know what part he had been meant to play in it . He might be the messenger instead of the Portuguese Jew , in which case he would have papers about his person . If he knew of the cave , others might have the same knowledge , and I had better shift him before they came . I looked at my wrist-watch , and the luminous dial showed that the hour was half past nine . Then I noticed that the bundle in the corner was sobbing . It was a horrid sound and it worried me . I had a little pocket electric torch and I flashed it on Wake 's face .