about a quarter to six
`` Take care of the pie , '' said Fred . It was a meat-pie which he had taken from the larder this morning ; but he had told Mrs. Johnson about it in the letter he had left behind him ; and had explained that we took it instead of the breakfast we should otherwise have eaten . We felt that earth-nuts might not be forthcoming on the canal banks , or even on the wharf at Nine Elms when we reached London . At about a quarter to six Johnson 's wharf was quite deserted . The barge-master was having breakfast ashore , and the second man had gone to the stable . `` We had better hide ourselves now , '' I said . So we crept out and went on board .