a quarter to twelve
He grasped the situation at once and earnestly seconded Leonard 's efforts to preserve silence and to prevent confusion . `` Come , '' said Leonard to Soa , `` we have got enough to begin with . I must be off . You can loose the rest at your leisure ; the moon is rising , it is a quarter to twelve , and we have not a moment to lose . Now , Otter , before we go , how can we send men to fire the reeds -- through the garden ? '' `` No , Baas , I have thought of a better way , the way by which I escaped myself -- that is , if these men can swim . '' `` They can all swim , '' said Soa ; `` they were bred on the banks of a river . ''