nearly six o'clock
It 's precious cold here , though the wall does shelter us from the wind a bit ; still it 's not a lively job having to wait here half an hour , with the thermometer somewhere below freezing point . '' The time passed slowly . Occasionally they exchanged a few words in low tones , but as the time approached when they knew that the sergeant would be going his rounds to call the men they spoke less . `` It must be nearly six o'clock now , '' Desmond said at last . `` The men would be called at a quarter to , so if any one is coming he will most likely be here in a few minutes . Hush ! I think I can hear footsteps . ''